Belenenses – Sporting
Benfica - P. Ferreira
Braga – Leixoes
FC Porto - Rio Ave
Maritimo - E. Amadora
Nacional – Guimaraes
Setubal – Academica
Trofense – Naval
After their slightly fortunate draw in Lisbon last weekend, FC Porto have a one-point lead over Benfica in the title race and welcome third-bottom Rio Ave to the Estádio do Dragão this weekend. Jesualdo Ferreira’s men are still, you feel, far from top gear but the way French full-back Aly Cissokho has settled in following his January move from Setubal has been one unanimous positive. The visitors, meanwhile, have scored just 11 goals all season but they bounced back from a run of 5 straight defeats with a home win over Academica last weekend.
In Lisbon, Quique Sanchez Flores’s side welcome Pacos de Ferreira, whose problem is not so much scoring (Brazilian striker William is the second top scorer in the Superliga) as conceding – no team has shipped more than their 29 goals. One win in their last six means they are unlikely to cause Benfica too many problems as O Glorioso look to keep pace with the leaders.
Braga, fresh from turning over Sporting Clube de Portugal in their own backyard last weekend, welcome Leixoes to the Axa Arena as 4th plays fifth. Braga have one of the best strike partnerships in Portugal with Colombian Wason Renteira (on loan from Porto) and Cameroon’s Albert Meyong both in good nick. Leixoes, on the other hand, have hit something of a wall lately having collected 4 successive 0-0 draws before last weekend’s 2-0 beating of Trofense. Braga have an excellent opportunity to leapfrog their opponents.
Sporting, meanwhile, must regroup and make the short journey to Belenenses, a team that held Benfica 0-0 back in January but otherwise have a fairly dismal home record. Nacional are hot on Braga’s heels for that final European spot and will look to maintain the pressure at home to Guimares; Maritimo in 7th play Estrela Amadora in 9th; Bottom side Setubal host Academica; and Trofense host Naval.
No comments:
Post a Comment