Sporting defeated Rio Ave at Stadio Dos Arcos, 2-0, in a match from Round 31 of the Premier League.

The penalty kick scored by Pedro Gonçalves, who equaled 18 goals for Benfica Severovic, in the 34th minute, and the remarkable goal scored by Paulinho in the 63rd minute, clinched the victory of the “Lions”, the first to reach. 31 indomitable games In the tournament.

Sporting, who clinched a place in the group stage of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League, now counts 79 points to 70 for FC Porto, who this Thursday moved to Benfica’s third stronghold with 66 points. Rio Ave added the ninth game without a win. He is the fifteenth with a score of 31.

See the meeting summary below:

If Porto fans do not win in Luz, Sporting will be one or two points away from the 2001/02 replay and are only relying on themselves to be crowned champions on Tuesday, at the Boavista reception. It could be that on Monday, after FC Porto Farnes, if the “Dragon” does not win tomorrow or before the Algarve logo.

Sporting returns to the group stage of the Champions League, which was the last time in the season in the 2017/18 season, and then coached by Jorge Jesus, the current coach of Benfica, thus taking advantage of an important financial bout by entering the most important club competition in Europe.

Since the UEFA Champions League model change, “Lions” have been present eight times in the group stage (1997/98, 2000/01, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2014/15, 2016/17 and 2017/18), Next season, adding the ninth participation, which on only one occasion advanced to the elimination stage.