Title: Sporting Faces Tension at Dragão as Players Barred from Changing Rooms Amid Pre-Match Chaos

Sporting CP players were disturbed during the early hours of Wednesday, April 22, 2026, as fireworks were set off near their hotel ahead of their Taça de Portugal semifinal second leg clash with FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão. According to reports from Portuguese media outlets including Maisfutebol and Domínio de Bola, the Sporting delegation was awakened by the sound of fireworks and loud noises outside their hotel on Avenida da Boavista in Porto between 3:30 a.m. And 4:00 a.m. Local time. The incident echoes a similar disturbance in February when the team was staying in Vila Nova de Gaia ahead of a previous match. Despite changing hotels to avoid a repeat of the earlier disruption, Sporting’s preparations were again affected by what the club believes was an intentional attempt to disrupt their rest before the high-stakes encounter. The team had won the first leg 1-0 at home in Alvalade, giving them an advantage heading into the match scheduled for 8:45 p.m. That evening. While Sporting officials confirmed the disturbance, police sources contacted by CNN Portugal stated they could not verify any incident in the area during the early morning hours. The club has not publicly accused any specific group, but the timing and nature of the event have raised concerns about matchday tensions ahead of one of Portuguese football’s fiercest rivalries. The winner of the tie will advance to the Taça de Portugal final.