Champion Sporting closed the I League with a solid triumph against the already relegated Desportivo de Chaves (3-0), this Saturday, reaching the goal of 90 points. The day was one of great celebration in Alvalade, but also of farewells, given the departures of Luís Neto and Antonio Adán at the end of the season.

Viktor Gyokeres took care of leaving the Lions winning by two goals at halftime, with a brace scored in the 23rd and 37th minutes, and even scored a hat-trick, which would end up being disallowed with the help of VAR.

The Flavienses went to halftime with a numerical disadvantage, due to the red card shown to Junior Pius (45+4'), and ended up seeing Paulinho reach the final 3-0 in the 55th minute, even before Rúben Amorim debuted Francisco Silva in goal - who joined Diogo Pinto in the range of new national champions.

With the dream of the double on the horizon, the Lions are already thinking only about the Portuguese Cup final, at Jamor, against FC Porto, on May 26.

VAR here, VAR there...

In a game in which Rúben Amorim presented precisely the eleven he had announced at the press conference this Friday, the Lions entered with some difficulty, given the offensive attacks of the transmontanos, but even so they did not fail to go to halftime with a quiet result.

In the 13th minute, Francisco Trincão left two opponents behind in the opposing penalty area and the fall after the 'show' even led Manuel Oliveira to point to the penalty mark. However, due to the alert from the video referee, the experienced Portuguese referee ended up overturning the initial decision, understanding that Vasco Fernandes' touch would have been insufficient for the foul on the former Barcelona forward.

It happens that what the VAR takes away, the VAR gives. At the top of the 20th minute, Guima stretched his arm slightly and prevented a cross from going to the center of the area, motivating another run by Manuel Oliveira towards the image booth. This time, there was a right to maximum punishment and, despite the intense requests coming from the stands for Luís Neto to try his luck in the farewell game, it was Viktor Gyokeres who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute.

Francisco Trincão and Luís Neto were close to extending the advantage, but that function would end up being destined for the Swedish forward. In the 37th minute, after an assist from Ricardo Esgaio, Gyokeres did everything right inside the penalty area and once again left the Alvalade crowd in a state of total euphoria.

A very troubled final stretch of the first half followed, with a disallowed goal and an expulsion. In the first of the four minutes of compensation, the championship's top scorer did his thing again and scored a hat-trick, however, the move would be disallowed with the help of VAR due to a foul by Sebastián Coates at the start of the play. Curiously, following that decision, while waiting for the free kick to be taken, Junior Pius elbowed Morten Hjulmand and quickly saw the red card, on the verge of halftime.

Great goal, farewells, debuts... and fireworks

Upon returning from the locker rooms, Moreno Teixeira promoted a triple change on the side of Desportivo de Chaves, while Rúben Amorim withdrew Hjulmand from the field to launch Paulinho who, imagine, was responsible for reaching the third, with a great goal scored in the 55th minute, after a pass from Nuno Santos.

While Alvalade sang "If Paulinho shows his teeth, they even fall out", one of the biggest ovations of the afternoon followed, with the emotional farewell of Luís Neto, when he gave way to St. Juste, receiving thousands of... bows. Later came the fireworks, with an apotheotic atmosphere in Alvalade.

Until the final whistle, there was still room for some opportunities near the two goals and, above all, for the debut of Francisco Silva to replace Diogo Pinto, being the most recent players to put their names on the list of national champions, given the injuries of Franco Israel and Adán.

With this result, Sporting ends the championship with 90 points, 10 more than rivals Benfica, while Desportivo de Chaves did not avoid the last position, with 23, falling to the II League. The championship is over for the Lions, but not the season, given that on May 26, the Estádio Nacional do Jamor will host the Classic between FC Porto and Sporting, in the dispute of the Portuguese Cup, with the double on the horizon for the new national champions.

[News updated at 8:06 p.m.]

Also Read: What was this, Paulinho? Great goal made Alvalade scream "they even fall out" (Portuguese version)

Also Read: Pius disagreed with Hjulmand, did what he shouldn't and ended up being sent off (Portuguese version)

Also Read: It seems so easy. Gyokeres receives, turns and doubles Sporting's advantage (Portuguese version)

Also Read: VAR intervened and Manuel Oliveira disallowed this penalty for Sporting (Portuguese version)

Also Read: Alvalade asks for Luís Neto, but Gyokeres turns a 'deaf ear' and scores (Portuguese version)

Also Read: Sporting says goodbye to Alvalade with the right to a guard of honor from Chaves (Portuguese version)

Also Read: 'Madness' without end. Sporting arrives at Alvalade with an apotheotic atmosphere (Portuguese version)

Starting Elevens

Sporting: Diogo Pinto, Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio, Morten Hjulmand Hidemasa Morita, Nuno Santos, Pedro Gonçalves, Francisco Trincão and Viktor Gyokeres.

Desportivo de Chaves: Gonçalo, Sylla, Junior Pius, Vasco Fernandes, Ygor Nogueira, Morim, Guima, Raphael Guzzo, Paulo Victor, Jô Batista and Sanca.