Well what a way to be eased back into a new Primeira Liga season. 34 goals, last-minute winners, red cards aplenty, our first managerial departure, debut goals, debut red cards. You’ll be forgiven for feeling it’s all too much in just one round of matches, but that’s why we’re here.
Every week PortuGOAL will preview the upcoming round of fixtures – the jornada – to keep you up to date with all the big stories and draw your attention to players who might be the next big thing.
Big tests for promoted duo
With everyone off the mark, some quicker than others, we can start to build a clearer picture of where everyone is, who’s done well in the transfer market, who needs to do more, and who has instantly made me look stupid having just finished my season predictions. We’re also starting to get a taste of the newly promoted teams and this week two of them play both Benfica and Porto which should give people an opportunity to watch them.
For a recap on what happened in the above-mentioned frenetic first weekend of action in Portugal’s top flight, listen to this week’s Long Ball Futebol show.
Benfica v Estrela da Amadora
Easily the biggest surprise of last weekend was Boavista’s victory over Benfica. Almost everyone has predicted Benfica to win the league, and to perhaps be even stronger than last season but last week was very much a false start and Benfica will be looking to bounce straight back. Estrela da Amadora made a spirited return to top tier when they hosted Vitoria de Guimaraes and were unlucky to come away empty handed.
The only concern with Benfica this season is whether Roger Schmidt will get the right combination of players from a well-furnished squad for the game in front of him. Aursnes, a player who gave so much last season, looked out of place and offered very little against Boavista. With players like David Neres and even João Mário as alternatives Schmidt will have to pick the right players to break down Estrela’s robust defence.
Two players from the Estrela back line made the Liga SABSEG team of the season 22/23. One of those is Gasper who looks like a real polished defender, the 25-year-old Angolan centre-back has really improved under manager Sérgio Vieira. The second, Jean Felipe, their Brazilian right-back, offers plenty both going forward and defensively, and could cause problems to Benfica’s left-hand side. Despite announcing himself in pre-season with a left footed rocket, new left-back Jurasek isn’t yet at the same level as Grimaldo in terms of creativity and quality on the ball. Although it’s only the second game of the season, it feels like Benfica really can’t afford to drop points again and that added pressure could play into Estrela’s hands.
Porto v Farense
Porto host Farense at the Dragão and, like Benfica, didn’t get their season off to a great start. Unlike Benfica however, they were able to turn it around and leave Moreira de Cónegos with three points having come from a goal behind. It’s the sort of performance we have come to expect from Porto who are probably the best team in the league at getting results even when they are performing badly. However, most fans would hope that after a summer transfer window and pre-season, Porto would look in a stronger position than they did last week.
Sérgio Conceição generally takes his time introducing new players into the team, but without a single new signing in the starting XI against Moreirense, it was obvious in the first half that something new was needed. Romário Baró was brought on and helped create the equaliser, but an unfortunate injury shortly afterwards meant Conceição was forced to bring on new midfielder and ex Barcelona man Nico González. His cameo was very impressive so it will be interesting to see if he’s trusted with a start against Farnese this week.
Farense look like they’re going to have a long hard season. They’ve lost their two best players this transfer window in left-back Abner and striker Pedro Henrique. Bruno Duarte has been brought in to get them goals this season as well as Rafael Barbosa, both with plenty of top tier experience. This could be a perfect game for Porto to get back to their best and boost some players’ confidence.
Sporting v Casa Pia
Sporting travel to Casa Pia on Friday evening and after an excellent return to the top flight last year Casa Pia will be looking to push on from the convincing 3-0 win in their opening game away at Farense. Consistency is key in this league and with an almost identical squad to last year, plus highly promising manager Felipe Martins still in charge, this could be a really good year for Casa Pia. Brazilian striker Clayton got off the mark against Farense and could be a problem for Sporting’s back line who let in two sloppy goals last week.
Sporting have their own problem-causing striker in new Swedish signing Viktor Gyökeres who was the standout player of the opening weekend. Two top draw goals in two minutes against Vizela silenced any doubters. He’s got all the attributes needed to be a devastating striker in this league: power, hunger, instinct.
Chaves v Braga
Having got through their first Champions League qualifying round Braga will be looking to start performing in the league too. They’ll play Chaves who also got off to a poor start to the season losing to transfer embargoed Rio Ave. This year Braga have something they haven’t always had, and that’s quality in depth. Players like Zalazar, Rony Lopes and José Fonte could all feature this weekend if Artur Jorge decides to rotate his squad having played mid-week games in the Champions League qualifiers. Chaves have also had an interesting window with lots of incomings. How new manager José Gomes will blend in those signings into a team that did so well last season will be critical to Chaves season.
How will Portimonense and Gil react after five-goal shellacking?
Outside of the big four there’s plenty of interest to be found, Portimonense suffered a 5-0 loss on the opening day of the season away at Gil Vicente, a result they’ll be desperate to bounce back from but a game against a Boavista side who’ve just upset the reigning champions could prove difficult. The aforementioned Gil Vicente will head to Guimarães to play Vitória. Vitória beat newly promoted Estrela in their first game of the season, but left a little to be desired in their performance, and have just lost their manager Moreno. Although a side with undoubted quality, it’s been a turbulent time in recent weeks, and an in-form Gil Vicente will take confidence from their opponents struggles.
Vizela v Arouca
Vizela and Arouca have a tenuous link having been promoted to the Primeira Liga at the same time, two season ago, but since then the two clubs have seen differing fortunes. Both struggled for survival in their first season in the top flight, but last year Arouca’s magnificent campaign was rewarded with European qualification, whilst Vizela only amounted to mid-table mediocrity.
Vizela have a newly appointed 36-year-old Spanish manager Pablo Villar, who almost led his side to opening day glory against Sporting, whilst Arouca had to navigate midweek European fixtures in this first week of the season, but that didn’t stop them coming from behind to beat Estoril in a seven goal thriller at the weekend. It will be hard to separate the two sides, but fatigue for Arouca could be a key factor in the game’s result, especially given Arouca’s trip to Norway three days before the match.
5 players to keep an eye on this weekend
Leonardo Buta (Gil Vicente): Gil Vicente scored 5 goals last weekend and looked fantastic. 21-year-old Portuguese left-back Leonardo Buta, on loan from Udinese, got two assists and a clean sheet in that game. Charged with replacing the experienced Adrian Marin, Buta got off to a flying start and looks like a very exciting young attacking full-back.
Rony Lopes (Braga): A name many reading this will be very familiar with, Rony Lopes was signed by Braga in the summer to replace Iuri Medeiros. Like Medeiros, Lopes has struggled with consistency in his career, and Braga will be hoping that, like Medeiros again, he can find that consistency at Braga. He didn’t start against Famalicão, but with the Champions League causing some early fixture congestion, Lopes could get his chance to show what he can do against Chaves.
Róbert Boženík (Boavista): The 23-year-old Slovakian striker was Boavista’s hero last week, scoring two goals to give them a famous win over the reigning champions. Boženík will want to prove that he’s no flash in the pan and what better opportunity than against a Portimonense side low on confidence, who just shipped five goals.
Nico González (Porto): Nico González was one of just a few new signings at Porto, but coming from Barcelona he comes with great pedigree, and the hope is that he will add some real quality to Porto’s midfield following the departure of Uribe in the summer. Whilst he didn’t start against Moreirense, he impressed once coming on as a sub and Conceição may have seen enough to give him an opportunity from the start.
Cristo González (Arouca): One of multiple Spanish signings Arouca have made this summer, striker Cristo González scored 32 goals in 72 appearances for Real Madrid Castilla early in his career. He’s already made a big impression in a short space of time, with some fantastic goals, and also some incredible misses to his name. If he can start to settle in this league quickly, he will score a lot of goals.
by Albert and Barney Carter-Phillips (@LongBallFutebol)
