It is as you were at table top as after this weekend’s action with the top four all winning their respective matches.
Benfica were first in action and two early goals helped the Eagles dispatch Arouca 3-1 in Lisbon to temporarily put the reigning champions in first place in the standings. Sporting responded well to the pressure, producing a vibrant attacking performance at Paços de Ferreira in a 3-1 victory.
José Peseiro started life as the new FC Porto coach with a 1-0 victory over Marítimo, while Braga continued their impressive form, thrashing Rio Ave 5-1 at the quarry.
Benfica 3-1 Arouca
From the moment Pizzi put the hosts ahead after just three minutes in front of 51,000 fans at the Estádio da Luz, the result was never in doubt. The midfielder struck a firm shot into the corner of the net from the top of the box after being set up by Jonas to notch his sixth goal of the season.
Benfica have been scoring for fun in recent weeks, and the way Mitroglou and Jonas terrorised the Arouca defence, and with the Eagles driven forward by another fine display from midfield youngster Renato Sanches, more goals were inevitable.
Mitroglou duly doubled Benfica’s lead with a brilliantly executed back-heel goal on 19 minutes and Jonas added a third in the second half. Only some fine goalkeeping by Bracalli prevented further Benfica goals. Arouca grabbed a consolation in stoppage time when centre-back Velazquez powered in a header from a corner.
Benfica have now won six straight matches in the Liga and 11 out of their last 12 in domestic play.
Paços de Ferreira 1-3 Sporting
Sporting went into the game having been displaced by Benfica at the table summit, and responded in fine style with a convincing win at a tough venue. Adrien, João Mário and Slimani were once again outstanding as the Lions tore into the home team throughout the 90 minutes.
Bruno César rewarded Sporting’s first-half domination by putting the visitors ahead in the 40th minute after being well set up by Slimani. And Sporting were unlucky not to score a second before the break as João Mário’s fierce cross-shot bounced back off the underside of the bar.
Sporting’s domination was even more clear in the second half and it was no surprise when Slimani doubled the Lisbon club’s lead, firing under Paços goalkeeper Marafona after latching on to a perfect João Mário through ball.
Paços briefly threatened to get back into the game when Bruno Moreira continued his hot streak by heading past Rui Patrício into the net with ten minutes remaining, but Sporting hit straight back, Slimani restoring the two-goal cushion after another superb assist from João Mário.
Sporting remain two points clear at the top of the table.
FC Porto 1-0 Marítimo
New Porto coach José Peseiro said before and after the game against Marítimo that the only thing that mattered was winning the three points. It was an understandable sentiment as the Portuguese coach has not had time to train his players as he adapts to his new environment, and the Dragons had drawn and lost their two previous meetings against the islanders this season.
A fortunate goal midway through the first half proved the difference as misfiring Porto put in another substandard performance. André André’s powerful shot on the turn crashed against the bar, hit the back of the diving goalkeeper Salin and nestled in the net.
Marítimo almost levelled the scores soon afterwards, Dyego Sousa’s header coming back off the bar with Casillas beaten. But without their main striker Marega, who was forced off injured, Marítimo were largely toothless up front.
Porto themselves failed to carve out clear chances for the remainder of the game, relying on Maxi Pereira’s surging runs to create danger. Three times the Uruguayan defender went down in the box and claimed a penalty, but on each occasion the referee turned away the protests.
In the second half Corona burst through but was denied by an excellent diving save by Salin.
Peseiro evidently has plenty of work to do to improve this Porto team. However, the Dragons remain just five points behind top spot and it would be foolish to rule them out of mounting a title challenge.
Week 19 results
Belenenses 3-3 Vitória Guimarães
Benfica 3-1 Arouca
Braga 5-1 Rio Ave
FC Porto 1-0 Marítimo
Moreirense 1-3 Estoril
Paços de Ferreira 1-3 Sporting
União da Madeira 3-0 Nacional
Vitória Setúbal 2-1 Académica
Monday match: Tondela-Boavista
by Tom Kundert
