Sporting Stay Top as Trubin’s Benfica Held in Title-Deciding Derby
Sporting CP held on to top spot in the Primeira Liga after a tense 1-1 draw with bitter rivals SL Benfica in a dramatic Matchday 33 showdown at the Estádio da Luz.
Both teams entered the match level on points (79), with Sporting holding the edge on goal difference—and that slim margin remains intact heading into the final round of fixtures. In a contest full of tension but short on goals, it was the visitors who struck first, as Francisco Trincão capitalised on early pressure to fire Sporting ahead within minutes of kickoff.
Benfica, featuring Ukrainian international goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, responded after the break through Turkish star Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who slotted home the equaliser. Despite a second-half push from the Eagles, they couldn't find a winner, leaving the title race finely poised.
Both sides now head into their final matches of the 2024/25 season deadlocked at the top, with Sporting clinging to first place thanks to a slightly superior goal difference. The championship will come down to the wire.
Click here to view the updated 2024/25 Primeira Liga standings
2024-25, Portugal - Liga Portugal
Benfica - Sporting CP 1:1 (0:1)
Goals: Trincão, 4 (0:1); Aktürkoglu, 63 (1:1)
Benfica: Trubin; Fernandez Ál. (Bruma, 83); Silva A.; Otamendi; Araújo T. (Belotti, 71); Aursnes; Kökçü; Di Maria (Schjelderup, 46); Pavlidis E. (Cabral, 90); Florentino; Aktürkoglu (Dahl, 84)
Bench: Soares S.; Bajrami Adrian; Barreiro L.; Gouveia Tiago
Yellow Cards: Otamendi 15; Florentino 60; Aktürkoglu 70; Kökçü 90
Sporting CP: Rui Silva; Debast (Morita, 58); Inacio; Diomande O.; Quaresma E. (St. Juste, 82); Pedro Gonçalves (Quenda, 71); Hjulmand; Araújo M. (Harder, 82); Catamo; Gyökeres; Trincão (Reis M., 81)
Bench: Israel; Fresneda; Esgaio; Biel
Yellow Cards: Hjulmand 19; Rui Silva 54
