The Sporting from Portugal will jump to the grass tonight with a feat on the horizon: if he scores against the Santa Clara, will surpass its historical record of matches without knowing the defeat and will add for the first time 22 league games undefeated.
The “lions” receive in Alvalade those of Azores with a balance behind them of 17 victories and 4 draws that allow them to lead with 55 points and a comfortable advantage over the second, Braga, who is 9.
But this week they want to go one step further and surpass the record of the 1981/82 season, when they remained undefeated during the first 21 days.
On the streak of Sporting Madrid goalkeeper Antonio Adán has played an important role, who has only suffered 10 goals so far in the League and last matchday he again left a clean sheet against Porto, a priori the main rival for the title.
After the 0-0 draw with the “dragons”, Rúben Amorim's team receives an opponent who is seventh in the league, Santa Clara, and promises not to make it easy for them.
Another highlight will close the day on Tuesday, the “derby do Minho” between Braga and Vitória de Guimarães.
Carlos Carvalhal's Braga has placed second in the table and has also come down on Porto in the semifinals of the Portuguese Cup, in a match in which striker Abel Ruiz scored two goals.
For their part, Guimarães, led by Colombian striker Óscar Estupiñán, the team's top scorer, will be looking for a good result to get closer to their goal this season, fifth place and access to the Europa League.
For now, that position is in the hands of Paços de Ferreira, which opens the match at home this afternoon against Nacional de Madeira.
On Saturday it will be the turn of Porto, which is 10 points behind the head and wants to forget the defeat with a good result against the modest Gil Vicente.
Those of Sérgio Conceição also have an eye on the return leg of the Champions League that they play on Tuesday and that they face with hope after the 2-1 harvested in Do Dragão.
On the same day, Pako Ayestarán's Tondela, which is coming off an important victory that allowed it to place ninth and open more space with relegation, will face Portimonense.
There will also be a duel in the lower part, where there are 6 teams with a difference of just 3 points: Boavista, bottom, receives Famalicão, second to last.
On Sunday there are two games marked: the Marítimo-Moreirense and the Rio Ave-Farense.
The last of the greats to take to the pitch is Benfica, who play a Lisbon derby on Monday against Belenenses, tenth.
The “eagles” are fourth, 13 points behind Sporting, so their chances in the League are almost nil and they will even have to fight for a position that gives access to the Champions League, for which only three qualify.
They were also recently eliminated from the Europa League by Arsenal, although they got relief this Thursday by making it to the Portuguese Cup final after beating Estoril 2-0 in the semi-final second leg.