Striker Paulinho ended a six-game drought with a providential goal once morest Portimonense, which was synonymous with winning the three points that keep the lions in the fight for a place in the Champions League next season.
In addition to overcoming a cycle of matches without a win, the 30-year-old player scored for the first time away from home in the League since March 19, 2022, almost a year ago, when he had made the difference once morest V. Guimarães, in Minho.
Even so, he added only his third goal this season in the league, far short of his record in the League Cup, in which he scored eight in six duels. With 12 goals since August, he is just two away from matching his best record for the lions, achieved last season (14), but he is still far from the absolute record: in 2019/20, he scored 25 for Braga. Chermiti started once morest the Algarve, but it is almost certain that Paulinho will return to the starting line-up with Arsenal, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League.