358
The first meeting between FC Porto and Sporting CP took place on the 4th of June in 1922. The game was part of the Campeonato de Portugal, a knockout competition organised by the Portuguese Football Federation.
Three matches were required to decide the winner, with each team winning one game before FC Porto came out on top in the deciding fixture, winning 3-1 after extra time.
Fast forward 100 years and on the 20th of August, FC Porto will play Sporting CP in the Primeira Liga, with both teams hoping to compete for the league title this season. The Dragões vs Leões derby will take place at the Estádio Do Dragão and a victory for the hosts would see them open an early 5 point gap over their rivals.
At the time of writing, there have been a total of 243 meetings between the teams, making this one of the most played fixtures in the Portuguese football calendar.
As things stand, it is Porto who have the advantage in the overall head-to-head record, with 88 wins to their name. However, there is not a lot in it and Sporting CP have won 83 of the games between the two teams, so they have been closely matched over the years.
If we focus specifically on the Portuguese League, this is where Porto have the advantage. The Dragões have won 68 of the 176 matches in the league, with Sporting CP back on 59 wins.
There have been 49 draws but the goal scoring statistics make for interesting reading. With a superior win record, it would be expected Porto would have the superior goals scored record but that honour goes to Sporting CP, who have scored 250 goals across the 176 league fixtures between the two teams.
FC Porto have scored 5 goals fewer but will be hoping to close the gap when they meet on the 20th of August.
In terms of the league, we must go back to the 2016/17 season to find the last time Sporting CP recorded a victory over FC Porto.
Sporting CP were the home team that day and won the match 2-1, with all 3 goals coming inside the first 26 minutes. Since then, FC Porto have won 5 times against Sporting CP in the Primeira Liga but have not recorded a win since the 2019/20.
All 4 fixtures between the teams since that season have ended level. Last season was particularly disappointing for Sporting CP as they led in both matches but conceded equalising goals.
Porto had the upper hand over Sporting CP in the Taça de Portugal semi-final last season, winning both legs of the tie by a single goal. So, it is safe to say the Dragões have had the better of the derby in recent times.
The excitement is building ahead of the next Dragões vs Leões derby in Portugal as Sporting CP aim to record what has become a rare victory.
