Sporting Clube de Portugal reclaimed the top spot in the domestic handball championship on Sunday following a dominant victory, building momentum ahead of a crucial European clash.
The Lisbon-based club defeated Águas Santas 38-21, completing the 11th round of the league. The win puts Sporting level on points with rivals FC Porto and Benfica, though Sporting holds a game in hand against Avanca.
Sporting demonstrated what coaches described as “Champions League quality” throughout the match. Águas Santas managed to hold the score at 2-2 early on, but Sporting quickly took control.
A cohesive defense, effective counter-attacks, and precise shooting allowed Sporting to establish a significant lead. The team went into halftime with a clear 17-9 advantage.
The second half proceeded at what observers called a “training pace,” reflecting Sporting’s continued superiority. Spanish players Jan Gurri and Carlos Álvarez were key offensive contributors, each scoring six goals.
The strong performance comes as Sporting prepares for an important European fixture. On Thursday evening, the team will travel to Berlin to face Füchse at 7:45 PM local time.
The upcoming match is a rematch of an earlier Champions League encounter. Füchse had narrowly defeated Sporting 37-38 in Lisbon during the eighth round of the competition.
Before Sunday’s league match, Sporting honored former player Pedro Portela, who now plays for Águas Santas. Sporting captain Salvador Salvador presented Portela with a jersey acknowledging his contributions to the club’s consecutive championship, cup, and super cup titles.