FC Porto formally closed the 2023/24 season of the I League on Saturday night, with a triumph at the Estádio Municipal de Braga, against Sporting de Braga, by 0-1, which earned them third place and direct qualification for the Europa League.

The Dragons played with a numerical advantage for practically the entire match, due to the early expulsion of Víctor Gómez, for accumulating yellow cards, but only managed to 'untie the knot' just before the final whistle, in what was the last game before the long-awaited final of the Portuguese Cup, against Sporting.

'Short fuse'... and debatable

FC Porto entered the field, at Pedreira, more 'bossy', trying to make it clear that they had no intention of giving up third place, and even had the first opportunity, when Nico González appeared in the penalty area, in the ninth minute, heading over the target.

Just three minutes later, one of the highlights of the night took place. Just four minutes after showing Víctor Gómez the first yellow card of the night, Nuno Almeida 'pulled out' the second and sent off the Spanish full-back, in a (debatable) divided move with Wenderson Galeno, which left the Arsenalistas reduced to ten units.

From then on, the Dragons settled in the midfield of the home team, but without ever managing to create 'chills' for the opposing goalkeeper, Matheus Magalhães, in such a way that he finished the first half without being forced to make any saves, with the only decisive action being an exit at Galeno's feet.

Just before the whistle for half-time, there was another case to be registered, in Minho. Ricardo Horta fell in the penalty area, after a divided move with Alan Varela, in the blue and white penalty area, provoking protests from the Arsenalistas. However, the referee from the Algarve Football Association ordered play to continue.

'São Matheus' defended almost everything

The second half started just as the first had ended. That is, with FC Porto circling the Sporting de Braga goal... without practical effects, since, after a cross from Wendell, Evanilson slightly deflected the ball, but not enough to force Matheus Magalhães to intervene.

Moments later, Otávio Ataíde had the first real chance to break the deadlock, when, assisted by Pepê, he saw his shot hit João Moutinho, and then, the post. The Dragons were 'on fire', and then, it was Matheus who shone, denying the goal, first, to Pepê, then, to Francisco Conceição, and finally, to Wenderson Galeno.

However, the Minhotos refused to give up, and, at 55 minutes, they could have even scored, if not for a 'miraculous' cut by Wendell, preventing a low cross from Bruma from reaching Ricardo Horta's feet. From then on, the opportunities followed one after the other... but the scoreboard only moved at 84 minutes.

Having just come on for Francisco Conceição, Mehdi Taremi pulled a brilliant pass 'out of the hat' that left Wenderson Galeno isolated in front of Matheus Magalhães, who shot home, against his former team, to break the deadlock once and for all, and sentencing the final result.

With this result, FC Porto ends the season with 72 points, which leaves them in third place in the I League, with a four-point advantage over the fourth-placed team, Sporting, de Braga, and a staggering 18 points behind Sporting, a 'gap' not seen in Portuguese football for a long time.

Moment of the game: It is impossible to say what would have happened if Sporting de Braga had not been outnumbered at such an early stage of the game. However, it is certain that the expulsion of Víctor Gómez prevented Rui Duarte's men from fighting for third place as they intended.

Starting elevens

Sporting de Braga: Matheus Magalhães; Víctor Gómez, Sikou Niakaté, Paulo Oliveira, Cristián Borja; João Moutinho, Pizzi, Ricardo Horta; Rodrigo Zalazar, Bruma and Abel Ruiz.

FC Porto: Diogo Costa; Martim Fernandes, Otávio Ataíde, Zé Pedro, Wendell; Nico González, Alan Varela, Pepê; Francisco Conceição, Wenderson Galeno and Evanilson.

Preview

It is time to say 'goodbye' to the 2023/24 edition of the top tier of Portuguese football, and what better way to do it than with an always 'scorching' clash between Sporting de Braga and FC Porto, which will decide, once and for all, the third and fourth places in the table?

The Dragons go into the game, at Pedreira, knowing that they only depend on themselves to guarantee direct qualification for the Europa League, since they are third classified, with 69 points, one more than their opponent.

This means that the Minhotos are obliged to win, otherwise, they will be automatically relegated to the second preliminary round, on the way to what is the second biggest club competition in the Old Continent.

The Sporting de Braga-FC Porto match will be refereed by Nuno Almeida, a judge from the Algarve Football Association, and you can follow it live, from 8:30 pm (Continental Portugal time), on Desporto ao Minuto.

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