FC Porto has just completed the best first half of the season in the history of the Portuguese League, reaching 49 points out of a possible 51. Challenged to beat the record set by Benfica in 2019/20 (48), the Dragons went to the Azores to beat Santa Clara 1-0 and increased their lead over Sporting, who are now seven points behind. Samu scored the only goal in Ponta Delgada.

Francesco Farioli made only one change to the starting eleven that faced AFS (2-0) - Gabri Veiga instead of Rodrigo Mora - and it was the returning William Gomes who had the first dangerous chance, a crossed shot (slightly over the bar) following a cut inside run from the right to the middle. Five minutes later, in the 22nd minute, Gabri took a powerful free kick from the front, but goalkeeper Gabriel Batista saved it.

More aggressive in the defence than in the attack, the Azoreans approached Diogo Costa's goal for the first time in the 25th minute, immediately before Francisco Moura left the field with physical complaints - Alberto Costa came on to the right wing and Martim Fernandes switched to the left.

Just before halftime, after Jan Bednarek recovered the ball, William Gomes carried it from end to end and saw the home goalkeeper deny him another great goal. On the rebound, it was a defender who prevented Gabri Veiga from opening the scoring.

At the start of the second half, Gabriel Batista made a mistake in putting the ball back into play and Samu took advantage of the opportunity to open the scoring at Estádio de São Miguel, scoring his ninth goal in the last seven games and his 12th in the league.

Alan Varela and Borja Sainz replaced Gabri Veiga and William Gomes just after the hour mark, Deniz Gül did the same for Pepê in the final ten minutes, and in between, Pablo Rosario received his fifth yellow card, which will keep him out of the trip to Guimarães. Until referee Cláudio Pereira blew the final whistle, Borja Sainz came within inches of doubling the lead with a long-range shot.

The next fixture on Porto's schedule is the classic against Benfica at Estádio do Dragão to decide who goes through to the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup (January 14, 20h45).