This Robinho is not Robinho, but this Sporting is not Sporting either

Asporting's hopes in winning the title of national champion may have smoked this Sunday, once and for all, because of the one that was the first defeat in the reception to the Academic of Viseu in more than 40 years (the last out on January 20, 1981, by 0-1), by 1-2, in which the signs were beyond worrying.

After an affirmative entry into the field, with even the right, the threat of goal by Nestory Irankunda, the lions entered ‘gelatinian’ mode, trembling at the slightest sign that the visiting ‘pick’ was coming. The first sign of uneasiness appeared at 20 minutes, when an attempt by Kaique Pereira barely scored André Clóvis.

On the second attempt, the virates did not need to ask for leave, because the hosts made a point of extending their treadmill. Robinho received the ball completely loose in the left wing and had time to perfectly time the crossing for the goal of John William.

Instants later, the ball entered the green and white goal, this time, by the feet of Cihan Kahraman, having valued the attention of Miguel Nogueira's arbitration team, who noticed that, at the time of making the previous sideline launch, Miguel Breu put a foot beyond the line, so the bid was promptly cancelled.

The scenario was complicated, and Sporting returned to the second part, apparently, committed to solving it, with such a strong entry that it took only 17 minutes to restore equality, through the inevitable Luis Suárez, who responded with a clear deviation to a pass by Ivan Fresneda.

However, everything was just a fire, since at 74 minutes, defensive weaknesses came back on top. In circumstances similar to those of the first goal, the left wing opened this time for Soufiane Messegam to put the ball on João Guilherme, who, with one more goal, gave the ‘final blow’.

After nine rounds, Sporting is third ranked, with 18 points, minus nine than the leader, FC Porto (who visited and defeated Gil Vicente, by 0-1), so it remains to be realized if it will be more favorable to him than, in São Miguel, the Santa Clara (who has the same points) or the Benfica (who is, for the moment, the minimum distance).

The Academic of Viseu, for its part, cemented the status as one of the sensational teams of the new sports season of 2026/27 of the main national football echelon, to which he has just returned, since he added 17 points and ascended to sixth place, in equality with Arouca (who beat Alverca, for 0-1).

Figure

A distinction that cannot go to another player who does not John William, which was an authentic ‘devil on the loose’ on the left side of the Viseu Academic attack. Always quite active, put virtues at the disposal of the collective, and saw generosity rewarded with two goals.

Surprise

This White it may not be the same as the one that became popular for clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester City or AC Milan, but the truth is that ‘star quality’ did not fail you, in the José Alvalde Stadium, reconciling the defensive consistency with the daring attack, as it was seen in the assistance for the first goal of the game.

Disillusion

Kaique Pereira he surprised, against Lens, left doubts, against LASK Linz, and was a source of trouble, against the Scholar of Viseu. A goalkeeper is asked, above all, to convey tranquility to teammates, but the truth is that the Brazilian was more a vibration center than anything else.

Trainers

Rui Borges: It's starting to get harder and harder to point a finger at what's going on with Sporting. If, at the beginning of the season, the feeling was that, with mere adjustments, the team was there, now everything seems to be wrong. To defend, he was a complete strainer, and, attacking, depended above all on the ‘fires’ of one player or another.

Bruno Pinheiro: Another very competent display by the Scholar of Viseu, who once again demonstrated that it is possible to be consistent in defending without ever losing sight of what it takes to attack. In many moments he suffered, of course, but victory does not deserve the slightest contest.

Arbitrator

It promises to say the decision to reverse the great penalty in favor of Sporting, for Ewerton's lack of Maxi Araújo, but the truth is that the images prove that the goalkeeper of the Viseu Academic tried to throw the ball. Miguel Nogueira calm, even before the ‘volcano’ in which he became the Stadium of Alvalade, and managed to manage the disciplinary component.