Sporting faced Rio Ave in a match related to the Portuguese First League football. The main novelty in the lions' starting XI was the return of Gonçalo Inácio to the lineup. The centre-back was back in the starting XI after a period of absence.
Gonçalo Inácio, a Sporting player, was the great highlight in the composition of the team that took to the pitch to face the Vila Conde team. The return of the centre-back was considered an added value for the lion's defense in this encounter.
The game took place at the Estádio dos Arcos, Rio Ave's home stadium, with the Vila Conde team trying to surprise the visitors from Lisbon. Sporting, as the favorite team, were looking for the three points in this trip to Vila Conde territory.
This was the first time Gonçalo Inácio started a game since he returned from injury, representing an important recovery for the Portuguese centre-back within the lion's technical team's plans.
