Superliga Round 3 Review: Benfica run riot

Pacos de Ferreira 0-0 Guimaraes
Naval 1-3 FC Porto
Leixoes 0-0 Rio Ave
Leiria 0-0 Maritimo
Braga 3-1 Belenenses
Academica 0-2 Sporting
Nacional 1-1 Olhanense
Benfica 8-1 Setubal

Sporting Braga continue to set the pace in Portugal, maintaining the only 100% record in the Superliga after three matches with a comfortable victory over Belenenses. After Diakite's own goal put the league leaders in front, the visitors levelled through Cameroon midfielder Jean-Paul Yontcha. Hugo Viana (remember him?) scored a second half double to keep The Archbishops top, as new coach Domingos Pacienca enhances his reputation by the week.

Benfica moved up to second on goal difference following their thumping win over a wretched Setubal outfit. Oscar Cardozo scored a hat-trick, while Javi Garcia, Luisao, Nuno Gomes, Ramires and Pablo Aimar also got on the scoresheet for O Glorioso, who were 5-0 up by half time. Champions Porto strolled to a 3-1 win at Naval thanks to strikes from Falcao (3 in 3 for the Colombian) Silvestre Varela and Ernesto Farias. They keep the pace with Benfica in third. Maritimo and Rio Ave remain unbeaten after draws at the weekend with Leiria and Leixoes respectively while Sporting CP got their first win of the season away at Academica with Liedson and Yannick Djalo scoring. 9 sides, from positions 8-16, are still without wins from the first three matches but the two promoted sides will be happy with their start.

Italy and Portugal Previews weekend 21-24 August

Olhanense vs Leiria
Academica vs Pacos de Ferreira
Sporting CP vs Sporting Braga
Maritimo vs Leixoes
Rio Ave vs Vitoria Setubal
Guimaraes vs Benfica
FC Porto vs Nacional
Belensenses vs Naval

Round 2 in the Superliga sees the two promoted sides, Olhanense and Leiria, face off on Friday evening, after a bizarre opening weekend that featured seven draws and only one side, Sporting Braga, picking up three points. The big three could only record draws, and late draws at that - all of their equalisers coming in the final 15 minutes or so. Sporting were in action this week in the Champions League qualifiers, gaining a credible 2-2 home draw with Fiorentina and Braga, as reasonable as they are, should not present as tough a challenge. Porto's opponents, Nacional, pulled off a huge result midweek beating former UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg 4-3 in the first leg of the Europa League qualifiers, while Benfica breezed past Ukranian outfit Vorskla Poltava.

Bologna vs Fiorentina
Siena vs AC Milan Live on ESPN Sky Ch 417 or 442 in HD Saturday 7.45pm
Inter vs Bari Live on ESPN Sky Ch 417 or 442 in HD Sunday 5.00pm
Catania vs Sampdoria
Genoa vs Roma
Juventus vs Chievo
Lazio vs Atalanta
Livorno vs Cagliari
Palermo vs Napoli
Udinese vs Parma

An intriguing opening weekend in prospect for several sides. For starters, it doesn't get any tougher for Bari as they open their campaign with a long trip up north to visit champions Inter. Juventus entertain Chievo, who are themselves capable of springing an opening day surprise or two. A fascinating game potentially at the Luigi Ferraris - how will Genoa, a much changed team from last season, fare against a Roma side who finished below them but who have largely kept their squad together? The Grifone beat Danish side OB Odense 3-1 in the first leg of their Europa league qualifer on Thursday, meanwhile Roma squandered a 3-1 away advantage at Slovakian side MFK Kosice drawing 3-3. Their cross-city rivals Lazio had no such problems, brushing aside IK Elfsborg and they host Atalanta first up.

Elsewhere Leonardo's first league game at the helm of AC Milan is a trip to perrenial strugglers (and slow starters) Siena; Fiorentina start the ball rolling at Bologna; promoted Livorno open up at home to Cagliari while Parma visit Udine. Watch out for Palermo versus Napoli, which could prove to be a fiery encounter.

Liga Sagres Week 1 Results

Leixões 0-0 Belenenses
Nacional 1-1 Sporting CP
Sporting Braga 1-0 Académica
Naval 0-0 Olhanense
União de Leiria 1-1 Rio Ave
Paços de Ferreira 1-1 FC Porto
SL Benfica 1-1 Marítmo
Vitória Setúbal 1-1 Vitória Guimarães

Yellow Cards: 40
Red Cards : 2 (Hulk - FC Porto, Paulo Sergio - Académica)

Liga Sagres Week 1

Seeing as our regular Portuguese correspondent is "missing in action" at the moment, the Liga Sagres gets underway in Portugal this weekend. In fact, it's already underway after Leixões and Belenenses drew 0-0 last night. FC Porto are looking to defend their title and can the big two in Lisbon, Sporting CP and Benfica finally bring the title back to the capital for the first time since 2005. União de Leiria return to the Liga after a season in the Liga de Honra and top flight football returns to the Algarve with the elevation of Olhanense, who come up as Champions of the Liga de Honra. It's the first time an Algarve side has been in the top flight since Farense were relegated in 2004.

ESPN will also be carrying regular coverage of the league.

This is how they line up this week

Leixões 0-0 Belenenses
Nacional v Sporting CP
Sporting Braga v Académica
Naval v Olhanense
União de Leiria v Rio Ave
Paços de Ferreira v FC Porto
SL Benfica v Marítmo - Live on ESPN Sky Ch 417 or 442 in HD Sunday 8.15pm
Vitória Setúbal v Vitória Guimarães

Superliga Round 30 Review: Belenenses fall

Leixões 1 - 0 Maritimo
Vitoria Guimaraes 3 - 2 Academica
Benfica 3 - 1 OS Belenenses
Paços de Ferreira 1 - 0 CD Trofense
Naval 2 - 2 Vitoria Setubal
Rio Ave 2 - 1 Estrela Amadora
FC Porto 1 - 1 Sporting Braga
Sporting CP 3 - 1 Nacional

After Trofense were all but mathematically confirmed as down (sealed this week with defeat at Pacos), Belenenses joined them after Benfica emerged victorious from the season's final game at the Estadio da Luz, thus ending a 10-year stay in the top division. Oscar Cardozo, Felipe Bastos and Mantorras all got on the scoresheet for the hosts, cancelling out Silas's early opener for O Belem. Belensenses kept just four clean sheets all season and won only once away from home - relegation form if ever there was.

Setubal escaped thanks to a draw at Naval. After Marcelinho gave Naval the lead, Bruno Gama and then Brazilian Auri grabbed Vitoria the lead, only for subsitute Marinho to equalise late on. For Setubal, goals were their problem and for a side not long ago in European competition, it completes a real slide for them. Rio Ave, who not so long ago looked doomed, completed a remarkable turnaround with 4 wins in their last 6 matches, including the weekend's victory over Amadora thanks to goals from Edson and Livramento.

Up top, all the positions had really been decided prior to the final round of matches. Champions Porto ended the league campaign with a home draw to Sporting Braga, with Edimar cancelling out Ernesto Farias's opener (his 10th of the season). Benfica's win kept them in third, while Sporting were indebted to Derlei (2 goals) and a Romangoli penalty to beat Nacional, for whom Nene bagged his 20th of the season. Nacional join Benfica and Braga in the UEFA Cup, while Leixoes, whose season badly fell away after Christmas, and the likes of Maritimo, who lost their last six matches, and Academica, miss out.

The Euroballs Superliga team of the season is thus:

Eduardo (Braga); Anderson Polga (Sporting), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Sidnei (Benfica); Raul Meirelles (FC Porto), Ruben Micael (Nacional), Bruno Braga (Leixoes), Pereirinha (Sporting) Nene (Nacional), Liedson (Sporting), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica)

Honourable mentions: Helton (FC Porto), Bruno Gama (Vitoria Setubal), William (Pacos), Lisandro Lopez (FC Porto), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Aly Cissokho (FC Porto), Albert Meyong (Sporting Braga), Papa Diawara (Maritimo), Lito, Nuno Piloto (Academica)

Superliga Round 29 Review: Trofense down

OS Belenenses 1 - 0 Rio Ave
CD Trofense 1 - 4 FC Porto
Maritimo 1 - 2 Sporting CP
Vitoria Setubal 0 - 1 Leixões
Academica 3 - 1 Naval
Estrela Amadora 1 - 0 Vitoria Guimaraes
Sporting Braga 1 - 3 Benfica Lisbon
Nacional 1 - 0 Paços de Ferreira

Trofense have all but surrendered their Superliga status after defeat at home to the newly crowned Champions with Hulk putting in an inspired display for Porto, laying on goals for Ernesto Farias (2) and Lisandro Lopez (2) with only a rather splendid late strike from Hugo Leal to show for the evening. Thanks to Belenenses's win over Rio Ave, the team from Trofa, halfway between Oporto and Braga, are now bottom two points from safety. Despite Rio Ave's defeat they are unlikely to join them in Liga Honra, their run of one defeat in six meaning they have a three point gap over Belenenses going into the final game and a far superior goal difference. The Lisbon side have to get a point at Benfica, and hope that Setubal lose away at Pacos de Ferreira.

Elsewhere Liedson scored twice in Sporting's win at Maritimo, capitalising on some truly awful defending by the Madeiran side who long ago gave up on any European aspirations. It is the Islander's fourth straight defeat in a season that has badly petered out. Benfica sealed up third place with a comfortable win over Sporting Braga, Oscar Cardozo, Angel Di Maria and Matias Urreta scoring for O Glorioso with Luis Aguiar's late penalty the only moment of glory for Braga, who will probably finish in 5th.

Nacional will most likely finish above them after they squeezed past Pacos de Ferreira. Cleber Monteiro, one of seven Brazilians in the Nacional starting line-up, was the hero with an 83rd minute winner. Elsewhere Leixoes ended their bad run with victory at Setubal thanks to Bruno China's first-half header.

Superliga Round 28: Porto Lift The Crown

Vitoria Guimaraes 0 - 1 Rio Ave
Benfica 2 - 2 CD Trofense
Sporting CP 2 - 1 Vitoria Setubal
Paços de Ferreira 2 - 1 Maritimo
Naval 0 - 0 Estrela Amadora
Leixões 0 - 1 Academica de Coimbra
FC Porto 1 - 0 Nacional
OS Belenenses 0 - 5 Sporting Braga

So that is another Superliga crown wrapped up for FC Porto. That is the Dragões fourth title in a row, and the third in a row for Jesualdo Ferreira who becomes the first Portuguese manager to achieve such a feat. They sealed the title on Sunday in rather unspectacular fashion with a 1-0 win over Nacional thanks to Bruno Alves's header. His dodgy performances in Europe aside, Alves has been a rock at the back in the league all season for the Champions and it seemed somehow fitting that he would get the decisive goal. In truth, Porto deserve their title because they have been the most consistent team over the course of the 28 rounds so far. They were 2nd at Christmas and while others started well and fell away (Leixões, Benfica) or started badly and improved (Sporting) they have remained roughly at a constant and while they have rarely been flamboyant, few neutral observers would begrudge them a fourth consecutive title.

Sporting had at least done their bit on Saturday with victory over Setubal at the Alvalade, Liedson scoring two goals sandwiching an equaliser from Setubal's promising U21 international striker Bruno Gama. Liedson has now hit 15 for the season, equalling his total for the past three seasons. Just down the road at the Estadio da Luz, Benfica produced another miserable display at home to Trofense, who claimed a deserved point from their spirited performance. After the visitors took the lead, Oscar Cardozo scored twice before Brazilian midfielder Paulinho secured a share of the spoils for Trofense. Quique Sanchez Flores has signed his own death warrant with his side's recent showings, winning just two of their last six.

They could yet be overtaken in third by Braga, who crushed a feeble Belensenses side on Monday night, with Porto loanee Wason Renteria and Paulo Cesar each helping themselves to two goals. With two games left Belenenses are 4 points from safety. Rio Ave, who for so long looked doomed, are now within touching distance of safety after a win at Guimaraes thanks to Fabio Contreao's 40th minute penalty. Leixoes and Maritimo both kissed goodbye to any lingering hopes of European competition with defeats, to Academica and Pacos respectively while Amadora are safe for another year after their goalless draw with Naval, for whom there is still a mathematical chance of relegation.

Superliga Round 26: As you were

Sporting Braga 1 - 0 CD Trofense
Sporting CP 2 - 1 Estrela Amadora
OS Belenenses 1 - 2 Nacional
Naval 0 - 1 Rio Ave
FC Porto 2 - 0 Vitoria Setubal
Benfica 3 - 2 Maritimo
Leixões Matosinhos 2 - 2 Vitoria Guimaraes
Paços de Ferreira 1 - 1 Academica de Coimbra

The top five all won this weekend in Portugal, although it wasn't all plain sailing, except for Porto who breezed passed struggling Setubal thanks to two delightful finishes from Lisandro Lopez. The Argentine has been nowhere near as prolific as his previous season but is still an integral part of the side and would be sorely missed should he be sold this summer. Sporting took the lead through Helder Postiga at home to Amadora, only for the visitors to draw level through a quite simply brilliant strike from Marcelo Goianira. Liedson was the hero for Paolo Bento's side as his header, his 13th of the season, proved the winner.

Also on 13 goals is Benfica's Paraguyan striker Oscar Cardozo, who must be quite glad he wasn't sold to Newcastle last summer. Cardozo hit two and David Luis one as O Glorioso took a 3-0 first half lead against Maritimo only for the Madeirans to hit back either side of half time through Marcinho and Bruno to set up a nervous finale. Benfica's season has still come to a halt and one wonders if Quique Sanchez Flores, unable to deliver a title, will be shown the door.

At the bottom, Rio Ave's mini-revival continues after their second successive win, this time away at Naval. Belenenses's defeat at home to Nacional was their first in three matches and it is still rather right down there. Braga did not totally convince in their 1-0 win over Trofense while Guimaraes proved their recent obduracy by holding Leixoes to a 2-2 draw, meaning the once high-flying Matosinhos side have won just 1 of their last 6.

Superliga Round 25 Review: Sporting keep pressure on

Estrela Amadora 0 - 2 Paços de Ferreira
Nacional Funchal 1 - 1 Sporting Braga
Vitoria Guimaraes 1 - 2 Sporting CP
Rio Ave 2 - 1 CD Trofense
Maritimo Funchal 1 - 1 OS Belenenses
Academica de Coimbra 0 - 3 FC Porto
Vitoria Setubal0 - 4 Benfica
Naval 1 - 0 Leixões

As Porto keep on winning, so Sporting keep the pressure on and mean that Jesualdo Ferreira just cannot relax as his team chase another title. This round was easier for Porto than it was for Sporting, the northerners comfortable beating Academica with goals from Mariano Gonzalez (2) and a penalty from Lisandro Lopez to notch up his 6th of the season. Academica should have had a penalty early on but apart from that created little, ending a 5-game unbeaten run.

Sporting's victory was harder but doubtless more satisfying as they came from behind to defeat Guimaraes, who have proved problematic for opponents recently. Roberto had put the hosts in front before two goals in the last ten minutes, from Derlei and then (of course) Liedson, swung the match the way of the capital team. This was after Paolo Bento had been sent to the stands for remonstrating with the referee. Guimaraes are 8th and about as solidly mid-table as could be.

Benfica bounced back from their miserable defeat last week to thrash lowly Setubal, giving Quique Sanchez Flores a significant lift but with 5 games left and 8 points the gap to Porto, their title chances are gone. Oscar Cardozo scored twice here, getting on the scoresheet alongside a brace from the now veteran Nuno Gomes. Fourth and Fifth met on Saturday as Nacional and Braga drew, Uruguyan striker Luis Aguiar putting Braga in front from the spot before Nene scored his 18th of the season to ensure a share of the spoils for the Madeirans.

Leixões's miserable 2009 continues after they lost at Naval on Monday, a solitary Paulao goal enough to condemn them to their fourth defeat in five that has extinguished what were once highly promising European aspirations. The clash of the bottom two saw Rio Ave overcome Trofense to leapfrog them, after first half goals from Yazalde and Fabio Coentrao. After Belenenses pulled off a surprising draw at Maritimo the gap between the two is now just one point. Pacos continued their revival, beating Amadora on Friday night to condemn the Lisbonites to their third straight defeat.

Superliga Round 24: Benfica fall further behind

SC Braga 1-1 Maritimo
Paços de Ferreira1 - 1 Vitoria Guimaraes
Leixões 1 - 0 Rio Ave FC
OS Belenenses 2 - 1 Vitoria Setubal
Sporting CP 3 - 1 Naval
Benfica 0 - 1 Academica de Coimbra
FC Porto 3-0 Estrela Amadora
CD Trofense 1 - 2 Nacional

Its all gone Pete Tong for Quique Sanchez Flores and Benfica. Two defeats in their last five matches, including this humiliating home loss at home to Academica, have almost certainly ended their title challenge as they sit third, 8 points off leaders FC Porto. Here, a first half strike from Ghanaian midfielder William Tiero was enough to down O Glorioso, who, despite chances for Mantorras and Oscar Cardozo, could not score and completed a famous victory for the Coimbra side, who have now lost once in their last 5 and sit 9th.

FC Porto experienced no such problems despite their well-publicised European excursions. With the second leg in mind, Jesualdo Ferreria rested a host of players for the visit of cash-strapped Amadora but the team suffered no ill effects, brushing aside the Lisbon side thanks to goals from Bruno Alves and Ernesto Farias (2), despite being without Fernando, Hulk and Lisandro Lopez. With 47 goals this campaign the Dragões are comfortably the top scorers in the league and it is this factor which may well see them collect a fourth straight crown.

Sporting CP did their bit to keep the race interesting, beating Naval on sunday to keep the gap up top at four points. Pereirinha gave Paolo Bento's side an early lead only to have it cancelled out by the visitors' Brazillian striker Marcelinho (his fifth of the season). Liedson, predictably, was the man to the rescue as he scored a goal in each half to condemn Naval to their third defeat in four matches. Liedson is currently being linked with the Portuguese national team having become eligible and the way things are going the embattled Carlos Quieroz could do a lot worse.

Elsewhere, Belenenses scored a priceless win in their battle to avoid relegation, defeating fellow strugglers Setubal 2-1 thanks to two early strikes from Saulo. Trofense replace them in the bottom two after losing at home to Nacional - the Madeirans would be nowhere this season without the goals of Nene - he scored his 16th and 17th of the season here. Rio Ave remain bottom after losing at Leixões, who leapfrog Maritimo (who drew at Braga) into sixth. Pacos scored a valuable point as they drew with Vitoria Guimaraes, thanks to Cristiano's 77th minute leveller.

Superliga Round 21: Braga miss out

Academica 1-0 Trofense
Amadora 2-2 Braga
Guimaraes 3-1 Belenenses
Leixoes 1-4 Porto
Naval 1-2 Benfica
Rio Ave 1-1 Maritimo
Setubal 2-0 Nacional
Sporting 2-0 Pacos de Ferreira

It is as you were for the top of the Superliga, after wins for each of the big three. FC Porto remain two points ahead of Benfica after a convincing win in the ‘local derby’ at Matosinhos side Leixoes. Leixoes pulled off the shock of the season by winning at the Dragao in October but they were unable to make lightning strike twice. Lucho Gonzalez gave Porto the lead from the penalty spot before Hulk took advantage of some awful defending to double the lead. Raul Meriellles made it three on 65 minutes, with Argentine Ernesto Farias completing the rout with a fourth. Diogo Valente’s goal provided little comfort for the home side, who have slipped in 6th on goal difference – four games without a win now for them.

Benfica’s victory at Naval was not nearly as easy, with the Figueira side drawing level after Benfica had taken the lead through Pablo Aimar’s first goal in a O Glorioso shirt. After Marcelino’s equalizer Benfica were indebted to Kostas Katsouranis, whose winner from Jose Reyes’s free kick keeps them in touch.

Sporting are a further two points behind, but still definitely in the hunt after a comfortable 2-0 home victory over Pacos de Ferreira. Goals in each half from the Brazilians, Liedson and Derlei – the latter really hitting some form with his fourth in five outings – were enough to overcome Pacos who remain perilously close to the drop zone on 19 points. There is a five point gap between Sporting and fourth placed Braga, who twice came from behind to secure a point in Lisbon against Estrela Amadora. The Brazilian Jardel (no relation to the pie-munching former Sporting striker) was on the mark twice for Os Tricolor only for Paulo Cesar and then the very highly rated Portugal U21 striker Orlando Sa to draw Os Arsenalistas level.

Belenenses are the new bottom side in the Superliga after their 3-1 defeat at Guimaraes. It is seven matches without a win for Jaime Pacheco’s men, who have been leapfrogged by Rio Ave following their creditable draw with Maritimo. Nacional missed the chance to put some daylight between them and Leixoes in sixth following a surprise 2-0 defeat to struggling Setubal, while Senegales striker Modou Sougou was the hero for Academica as the Coimbra side overcame Trofense 1-0.

Superliga Round 18: Benfica and Porto keep the pace

Belenenses 1-2 Sporting CP
Benfica 3-1 Pacos de Ferreira
Braga 0-1 Leixoes
FC Porto 3-1 Rio Ave
Maritimo 1-0 E. Amadora
Nacional 3-0 Guimaraes
Setubal 2-1 Academica
Trofense 2-2 Naval

FC Porto remain top of the Superliga by just a point but they left it rather late to beat a Rio Ave side bereft of confidence but with plenty of grit still left as they try and avoid relegation. Porto dominated for long periods yet failed to convert that into goals. Lucho Gonzalez put the Dragons ahead from the penalty spot in the first half and the visitors were lucky to go into the break just one goal down. But a magnificent strike with 20 minutes remaining by Fabio Coentrao stunned the hosts and at one stage looked enough for the bottom side to salvage a point before Ernesto Farias, the Argentine striker who has been more miss than hit during his spell in northern Portugal, struck two quality finishes to ensure Jesualdo Ferreira's men remained top.

Benfica were made to work hard for their win too, a 3-2 victory over a spirited Pacos de Ferreira. The Mata Real side, who are far from safe from the drop themselves, held out for 69 minutes playing a resolutely stubborn defensive game. The Eagles finally broke the deadlock through the Paraguyan striker Oscar Cardozo, with Ruben Amorim doubling the advantage four minutes later. Striker Ferreira then pulled one back for the visitors before a lovely chip from Angel Di Maria - an Argentinian winger setting tongues wagging in Portugal - restored the 2-goal cushion. It was a tense finale however as Chico Silva once again reduced the arrears and defender Kelly nearly stole a point late on.

Benfica are three points clear of Leixoes, who won at Braga in an attacking encounter. Both sides had their chances and Braga, in good form, will be rueing their wastefulness as, in the 79th minute, home defender Freachaut headed a Jean Sony cross into his own net. Sporting sit fourth on goal difference after a a frantic finish to their game across the city at Belenenses. substitute Marcelo put Jaime Pacheco’s team into the lead early in the second half. But Helder Postiga came off the bench and proved decisive, setting up a goal for Simon Vukcevic with 17 minutes remaining and scoring the second himself shortly afterwards which could prove vital for Paolo Bento's men.

Elsewhere, Setubal scored an important victory at home to Academica which lifts them up to 13th, Trofense and Naval played out a 2-2 draw and Nacional breezed past Guimaraes, a win that very much keeps alive their European ambitions.

Superliga Round 18 Preview

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.

Superliga Round 16 Preview

Academica v E. Amadora
Belenenses v FC Porto
Benfica v Rio Ave
Braga v P. Ferreira
Maritimo v Naval
Nacional v Leixoes
Setubal v Guimaraes
Trofense v Sporting

A big weekend in prospect in Portugal in the context of the Superliga title race. Porto, a point ahead of Benfica and Sporting at the top, visit Belenenses. The Estadio do Restelo is one of the most difficult places to visit in Portugal and that was proved by Benfica drawing a blank there last weekend. Despite O Belém having won just twice all season, the challenge of this fixture should not be overlooked.

Benfica host rock-bottom Rio Ave in what is sure to be three points, further heaping pressure on Jesualdo Ferreira’s team. Although they fell away last weekend Quique Sanchez Flores’s team are simply too good to let that continue, and Sporting are unlikely to follow suit visiting Trofense, who are third from bottom themselves. Game of the weekend, though, contains none of the big guns as Leixoes, in fourth, visit Nacional, in fifth in a battle of the UEFA cup spots. Leixoes have a two point advantage over their rivals but this could be eradicated at the weekend. Braga, in 6th, host Pacos de Ferreira while Maritimo host Naval and Guimares and Academica will both target maximum points from the weekend’s matches.

Advantage Porto

Porto are back at the summit of the Superliga in the latest round of league musical chairs in Portugal after a frenetic weekend. They took 3 points from a potential banana-skin of a trip to Braga, a side who are good at home and had only lost once at the Axa Arena before the weekend. However, first half goals from Cristian Rodriguez and Lisandro Lopez knocked the stuffing out of Jorge Jesus’s team.

It was a result that meant Sporting needed to keep pace, but they could not do so as they were held by Nacional, a side proving tricky for a great many visitors this campaign. Spurred on by a vociferous home crowd, The Madeirans took the lead when the highly-rated Brazilian Nene scored his 9th of the season with a delightful 30-yard lob over Rui Patricio in the visitor’s goal. Sporting did eventually level through the ever-reliable Montenegrin Simon Vukcevic, but it means that they drop back in the title race. Its a terrific result for the hosts who are chasing a very possible UEFA Cup place.

Benfica could not capitalise either as they were held to a frustrating goalless draw across town at Belenenses. David Suazo and Oscar Cardozo both went close but could not find a way past Julio Cesar in the hosts’ goal. Elsewhere Pacos Ferreira scored a priceless away win at Trofense, there were home wins for Academica and Amadora and Naval won away at struggling Vitoria Setubal.

The Top Table:

Porto 31
Benfica 30
Sporting 30
Leixoes 27
Nacional 25

Superliga So Far

With the Superliga one game away from the halfway point it seems like a neat time to review the events so far, with 14 rounds gone.

Benfica’s expensively assembled team lead the table on goal difference from Lisbon rivals Sporting. O Glorioso have lost just once all season and no team can better their goal tally of 25 from these opening 14 matches. Much of this success can be put down to the new personnel drafted in by Luis Filipe Vieira in a desperate attempt to challenge the hegemony enjoyed by FC Porto in recent years. Former Valencia and Getafe coach Quique Sanchez Flores was hired, becoming Benfica’s sixth coach in four years. Quique had been out of the game since being stupidly fired by his boss at Valencia, Juan Soler, and his disciplined, methodical approach has reaped instant rewards. In mitigation, he does probably have the best squad in the Superliga at his disposal. 15m Euros has been spent on Pablo Aimar and Jose Antonio Reyes, while up front, David Suazo, the Honduran, was recruited also on loan from Inter Milan with Jose Mourinho deeming him surplus to requirements. Suazo has so far looked pretty good, but really he should be scoring more at this level. Oscar Cardozo, the Paraguyan, has also been in decent touch while the likes of Angel Di Maria and Kostas Katsouranis have made an impression this campaign.

Down the road at the Estadio Alvalade, Sporting Clube started the season sluggishly but have really hit top gear since December. Neither as rich nor as flamboyant as Benfica, much of their success depends on Liedson, the veteran Brazilian who has been their top scorer in each of the last four seasons. His record, of 119 goals in 223 games for Sporting, is quite incredible considering he has never been called up to the Brazil national team. He has been supported well this campaign by midfielders Simon Vukcevic and Marat Izmailov, as well as the highly-rated duo of Joao Moutinho and Miguel Veloso, but at the back there are still question marks.

Champions FC Porto endured a torrid spell in November where they momentarily dropped out of the top four, but they have since recovered some ground. A 0-0 draw at home to Trofense last weekend relinquished their grip on top spot and Jesualdo Ferreira’s men have struggled to maintain the form that made them so dominant last season. With the departure of Ricardo Quaresma, Ferreira lost his main playmaker and his replacement, Cristian Rodriguez, has been inconsistent and this has had a knock-on effect on the potency of Lisandro Lopez up front. The Argentine forward’s tally of 4 this season is disappointing and Porto’s diminished firepower is arguably the reason why they sit third rather than top. Top scorer at this stage, rather improbably, is struggling Paços de Ferreira's William with 8.

The elephant in the room is 4th placed Leixões. This tiny club from Matosinhos, a suburb of Porto, started brilliantly and were top after 10 games. They have fallen away since then, but are still only four points behind Benfica. One wonders whether, with their small squad, they will be able to keep up this impressive form until the very end.

Much will be decided on how consistent these sides are. That has been Benfica and Sporting’s problem in the past – not necessarily their performance in the big games against their rivals, but their propensity to slip up against the likes of Belenenses, Trofense and Academica. Benfica look well placed but one can never rule out FC Porto, who may also fancy their chances against Atletico Madrid to progress to the last 8 of the Champions League. However, in Sanchez Flores Benfica have the best coach in the competition and someone who could deliver their first title in five seasons.