Sporting CP 2-2 Arouca: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How the match unfolded

The opening goal came in the 3rd minute: Gonçalo Inácio for Sporting CP, set up by Maxi Araújo. Luis Suárez made it 2-0 to Sporting CP in the 17th minute, set up by Iván Fresneda Corraliza. José Fontán from the penalty spot made it 2-1 to Arouca in the 81st minute. Arouca levelled at 2-2 in the 87th minute through Dylan Nandín, set up by Pedro Santos. It came with the clock nearly run down, and it rescued a point.

Sporting CP were two goals up and could not hold on: Arouca came back from two down for a draw.

It was 2-0 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.

Zeno Debast of Sporting CP was sent off in the 54th minute. The referee, D. Oliveira Silva, showed 9 yellow cards: 4 to Sporting CP and 5 to Arouca.

Sporting CP: R. Gomes Borges, 4-2-3-1 · Arouca: V. Freire De Seabra, 4-2-3-1.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 2.13 for Sporting CP and 0.90 for Arouca.

Arouca made more of their chances than the xG suggests, by about 1.1 goals.

Sporting CP created the better chances, 2.13 xG to 0.90, and still did not win. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.

Sporting CP had 3 shots on target, Arouca 5.

Sporting CP had 54% of the ball.

A red card changed the shape of the match, and no pre-match model can see one coming.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Sporting CP came into it with 8 Liga Portugal matches played, scoring 2.5 and conceding 1.1 a match, with 1.73 expected goals for and 0.88 against, and had won 63% of their matches.

Arouca came into it with 9 Liga Portugal matches played, scoring 1.3 and conceding 0.8 a match, with 1.12 expected goals for and 1.29 against, and had won 56% of their matches.

Sporting CP vs Arouca: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting CP), rated 7.5 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal.

Sporting CP

• Gonçalo Inácio 7.5 1 goal
• Luis Suárez 7.3 1 goal
• Maxi Araújo 7.2 1 assist
• Sergi Altimira 7.1
• Rodrigo Zalazar 7.1

Arouca

• José Fontán 7.5 1 goal
• Dylan Nandín 7.3 1 goal
• Iván Barbero 7.3
• Pedro Santos 7.1 1 assist
• Alfonso Trezza 7.0

The lowest-rated starter was Mateo Flores at 6.2. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Sporting CP: Sporting CP vs Academico Viseu Sunday 25 October 2026 · Liga Portugal
• Arouca: Arouca vs Nacional Sunday 1 November 2026 · Liga Portugal

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Sporting CP vs Arouca

What was the score in Sporting CP vs Arouca?

Sporting CP 2-2 Arouca (half-time 2-0), Liga Portugal, Saturday 19 September 2026.

Who scored in Sporting CP vs Arouca?

Gonçalo Inácio 3', Luis Suárez 17', José Fontán 81', Dylan Nandín 87'.

Did Moneyball predict Sporting CP vs Arouca correctly?

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Who was man of the match in Sporting CP vs Arouca?

Gonçalo Inácio, rated 7.5 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Sporting CP vs Arouca?

D. Oliveira Silva.