Sergi Altimira’s start at Sporting CP could hardly have provided more continuity. The Spanish midfielder, signed from Real Betis this summer, started each of the club’s opening four Liga Portugal matches and completed the full 90 minutes every time. His early record stands at four appearances, 360 minutes and one goal, while Sporting CP opened its league campaign with three wins and one draw.
Altimira’s first goal and his numbers
Sergi Altimira has quickly established himself at Sporting CP. The former Real Betis midfielder has already scored his first goal in Portugal and played every available minute through the opening four rounds of the 2026-27 Liga Portugal season.
Altimira’s first goal arrived on Matchday 2 in a 3-2 home victory over Vitória SC at the Estádio José Alvalade. Sporting CP was already 2-0 ahead through goals from Flávio Gonçalves and Fotis Ioannidis when the midfielder found space outside the penalty area and fired a powerful right-footed effort into the net before halftime.
The visitors responded after the break through Samu Silva and Alioune Ndoye, but Rui Borges’ side held on to secure its first league win of the season. For Altimira, the strike also represented his first competitive goal since moving to Lisbon.
360 minutes through four league games
Beyond the goal, the clearest indication of his strong start has been his playing time. Altimira started and completed all four of Sporting CP’s opening league matches: the 2-2 draw against Estrela da Amadora, followed by victories over Vitória SC (3-2), FC Alverca (3-1) and Rio Ave (4-0).
That means 360 minutes from a possible 360, with one goal and no assists. Sporting CP, meanwhile, collected ten points from its first 12 available before its Matchday 5 meeting with CD Nacional.
The run represents substantial early responsibility for a player who made 40 appearances in all competitions for Real Betis in 2025-26, scoring twice, according to the figures published by Sporting CP when his signing was announced.
A significant investment from Sporting CP
The financial details underline the Portuguese club’s commitment to the midfielder. Sporting CP paid Real Betis €18.25 million for 100 percent of Altimira’s sporting and economic rights, with a further €2 million potentially due through individual and team-related performance bonuses.
He signed a five-season contract running through June 30, 2031, with an €80 million release clause.
Developed in FC Barcelona’s youth system before spells with CE Sabadell, EC Granollers and Real Betis, Altimira has quickly become a regular in Rui Borges’ starting lineup. His first goal provided the most spectacular moment of his opening weeks, but the broader numbers may be even more significant: so far, the midfielder has not missed a single minute of Liga Portugal soccer for Sporting CP.
