
Gyökeres has scored 33 goals this season
The perfect '9' for Barcelona: Gyökeres keeps scoring and 'shouting for his signing'
Gyökeres once again showed Barça that he would be an ideal signing. Top scorer of Sporting and one of the standout names in European football
The Swedish forward Viktor Gyökeres was decisive again. Although he only played the last 13 minutes of the match, he had enough time to score and seal Sporting's 0-3 victory against Rio Ave in the Primeira Liga. With this goal, Gyökeres reached 33 goals this season, reaffirming his role as one of the most prominent figures in European football.
- Viktor Gyökeres: 22 goals in the league in 18 matches and 33 goals in 31 matches this season
Gyökeres, the main target of Arsenal. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the sporting direction of Arsenal has initiated contacts with the representatives of several top-tier European football players. Names like Benjamin Sesko and Dusan Vlahovic are on the 'gunner' agenda, but Viktor Gyökeres would be the club's main target.
This was reported by 'The Independent', which revealed that the Londoners hope to make a 'splash' this January with the Swede as the protagonist. Although the option seems remote as everything points to the scorer leaving Sporting CP in the summer, concern has risen at FC Barcelona, where the forward is one of the main candidates to take over from Robert Lewandowski in the attack.
However, the economic power of the Premier League seriously threatens the Catalans' options with Gyökeres. In addition to Arsenal, Manchester United is also closely following the Nordic player's steps and insists on taking the lead in the race, so the culés will need to act soon if they do not want to lose ground in the bidding for one of the most coveted pieces in the transfer market
A forward in a state of grace
The effectiveness of Gyökeres continues to be astonishing. In just 13 minutes on the pitch, he demonstrated once again why he is the top scorer of Sporting and one of the standout names in European football today. With this performance, the verdiblancos consolidate their position as favorites for the title and the Swede reaffirms his candidacy to be one of the best forwards on the continent.
Controversial start: an own goal to open the scoring
The match started uphill for Rio Ave. In the 3rd minute, an own goal by Brazilian Aderlan Santos gave Sporting the lead. The play was unfortunate for Santos, who had been honored before the match for reaching 200 matches with the club. The error occurred after a cross from the young Geovany Quenda, who is only 17 years old, leaving his mark on the match.
With this early advantage, Sporting controlled the game while Gyökeres rested on the bench. Coach Rúben Amorim decided to rest him after accumulating 3,099 minutes this season between his club and the Swedish national team. Despite the initial absence of their star scorer, Sporting created multiple chances. The second goal came in the 23rd minute thanks to a penalty executed by Danish Morten Hjulmand. The infraction was caused by a handball from Argentine defender Francisco Petrasso, confirmed after a VAR review.
Gyökeres comes on and seals the deal
Although Rio Ave improved after the break, they could not match Sporting's superiority. Coach Rui Borges tried to make adjustments, but his team's attempts, led by Danish winger Conrad Harder, were unsuccessful. In the 81st minute, Gyökeres entered the field in place of Harder and, as usual, did not disappoint. In the 88th minute, the Swede scored the third goal after a precise assist from Daniel Bragança in a lethal counterattack. It was his 22nd goal in the league in 18 matches and his 33rd in 31 matches this season.
Sporting remains in the lead. With this victory, Sporting maintains its lead at the start of the second half of the Portuguese championship, resisting the pressure from Benfica, Barcelona's next rival in the Champions League, which on Friday thrashed Famalicão 4-0 to temporarily equal the verdiblancos in points.