Sporting is buzzing after a fantastic stretch, having bagged two major trophies in just over a week. They lifted the Club World Cup in San Juan, Argentina, after a big win against Barcelona. Not long after, they secured the Supercup in Odivelas, beating rival FC Porto. Now, the focus shifts. This Tuesday at 9 PM, Sporting kicks off its national championship journey, hosting Sanjoanense.
The mood in the squad is high, and new goalkeeper Xano Edo, who joined the Lions this season, shared his thoughts with the club’s media. “Winning always helps. It’s a completely different feeling to work after victories compared to defeats,” he noted. “Those two titles were really important for us. They were big goals we set. Now, we need to buckle down and prepare for the National Championship. That’s another major objective we have this season.”
But don’t expect Sporting to take their first league opponent lightly. Xano Edo made sure to highlight Sanjoanense’s quality. Sporting actually faced them recently in the Elite Cup quarter-finals, securing a 4-2 victory. That prior encounter should keep the team sharp for Tuesday’s match.
The first round of the national championship began on Sunday. It won’t wrap up until Wednesday. That’s when the national champions, FC Porto, will face off against the European champions, OC Barcelos, in another highly anticipated match.
You can check out the already decided results and the rest of the competition schedule right here: Competition Results and Calendar.