There can be little, if any, margin for error as we enter the final corner of the Liga NOS season, with matchday 27 looking to throw a spanner in the works for all of Portugal’s traditional ‘Big Three’.
In clear sight of top spot, Sporting hosted high-flying Arouca at the Estádio José Alvalade, whose hopes of playing European football could soon make its transition from a pipe dream to reality after recent outings.
The Estádio do Bonfim was the venue for the clash between top tier mainstays Vitória de Setúbal and FC Porto, both now with an outside chance of achieving their goals this season, whereas as far as the big boys go, Benfica closed the weekend away to relegation candidate Boavista.
Sporting 5-1 Arouca
Arouca have deservedly attracted many plaudits over recent weeks as they climbed as high as 5th in the Liga NOS table, a team who in 2007 were playing in the district leagues of Aveiro as a semi-professional football club.
‘The Canaries’ arrived at the Estádio José Alvalade with an unbeaten run that stretched back almost two months, of which a great deal is owed to a defensive unit that has kept six consecutive clean sheets since their 2-1 away win versus Porto.
The defensive solidity of Litos Vidigal’s side is one that didn’t bode well with Sporting’s apparent wasteful nature of late; meanwhile Jorge Jesus’ men also have a lot to be proud of at the back, as his often varied options in defence have conceded the least amount goals (16) so far this season.
Thanks to Marvin Zeegelaar’s suspension and an injury to Jefferson, Jesus was forced into introducing yet another new member into Sporting’s back four with the adaptation of Bruno César at left back, and it was from the midfielder’s left footed cross that Bryan Ruiz headed the game’s first chance wide in the 4th minute.
Arouca reciprocated Sporting’s energy to create a chance from a cross just moments later, but Ivo Rodrigues’ glancing header from inside the box also lacked direction.
The visitors had just endured 541 minutes without conceding a goal, the longest run this season from any team, when Sporting found a way past Rafael Bracalli’s goal via a set-piece from Bruno César. The Brazilian’s delivery was met by a Sebastian Coates header and helped on its way in by the tiniest of touches by Teófilo Gutiérrez in the 15th minute.
The much-maligned Colombian was at the centre of Sporting’s next incoming attack, cutting inside and feeding João Mário to make it 2-0 for the ‘Lions’ with a shot across goal just three minutes after breaking the deadlock.
The goals kept coming for the hosts as Adrien Silva’s slaloming run transported the ball into João Mário’s path, bagging his brace with a neatly placed curler inside the box on the half-hour mark.
And with half-time looming, Gutiérrez was on hand to give Sporting a 4-0 lead, again coming up with a deft of touch to beat Bracalli at the back post.
There was still time for a Bryan Ruiz goal in the second half before Jorge Jesus’ team entered auto-pilot mode, steering his effort into the top corner in the 59th minute to make it 5-0, whereas Gegé provided Arouca with a mere consolation goal in the 66th minute from close range.
Vitória de Setúbal 0-1 FC Porto
Despite an impressive Under-21 Euro 2015 campaign, Sérgio Oliveira failed to make a single appearance for Porto under former manager Julen Lopetegui. However, new boss José Peseiro is keen to ensure the midfielder doesn’t become a forgotten man just yet by handing him his second consecutive start against Vitória de Setúbal.
It was through the 23-year-old’s long range effort, as well as Yacine Brahimi’s solo run in the 2nd minute, that Porto tested the ex-Bayern Munich goalkeeper Lukas Raeder in the early stages of the game.
The young German shot-stopper was at the heart of yet another Porto opportunity in the 35th minute, this time through a mix-up with defender Miguel Lourenço that left Vincent Aboubakar with an open goal in sight, but the former did just enough to block the striker’s shot.
An unmarked Héctor Herrera came close to giving ‘Os Dragões’ the lead on the brink of half time when heading over a cross from his compatriot Jesús Corona, but the visitors did eventually make it 1-0 before the interval when Sérgio Oliveira picked up the scraps from a blocked effort to drive a shot low and score his first goal in Porto colours.
Peseiro’s men searched for the second goal with greater caution and control in the second half, as an unbalanced Corona fired his shot just wide in the 62nd minute.
The game’s sole goalscorer then morphed into provider late on to pick out Brahimi with a cross but the Algerian failed to connect adequately with the ball, much to Raeder’s relief.
Porto’s failure to double their lead set up a nervy finish, almost losing grip on all three points as late as the 92nd minute when William Alves’ shot fell to Fábio Pacheco in the six-yard-box, but Maxi Pereira was on hand to deflect the Setúbal man’s shot over the bar and drag his time over the line.
Boavista 0-1 Benfica
A win and only a win would be the result accepted by Benfica in hope of snatching top spot back from Sporting. Living with opposing prospects to 16th placed Boavista, one would think the mission would be one of relative ease for Rui Vitória’s men after recent form, but it would be one they’d have to take on without the injured Nicolás Gaitán.
Raúl Jiménez, deputising for the suspended Kostas Mitroglou up top, came close to giving Benfica the lead in the 15th minute but saw his acrobatic effort parried away by Mika, meanwhile Lindelöf followed up by hitting the rebound over.
The visitors were back to try and find a way through in the 33rd minute when Pizzi created enough room inside the box to pull the trigger, dragging his shot just wide in the process.
Boavista’s chances came few and far between in the first half but they did conjure up two in quick succession as play resumed for the second period. Rúben Ribeiro’s shot from range forced Ederson into making a save in the 48th minute, whereas Renato Santos’ strike from the right hand side seconds later skipped just wide of the mark, taking a nick off Lindelöf’s foot as it cut across the face of Benfica’s goal.
As Benfica failed to break down the hosts’ defence for much of the half, Erwin Sanchez’s side looked to expose their opponents on the counter through Rúben Ribeiro, who wasted a promising opportunity to assist Santos by going towards goal alone and smashing a shot wide in the 84th minute.
The nail biting in the away section would eventually come to an end as late as the 93rd minute when Mehdi Carcela’s headed knock down found its way to Benfica’s go-to-guy Jonas, with the Brazilian’s first-time volley clinching three vital points for ‘the Eagles’ and catapulting them back to 1st place.
Video highlights of Boavista 0-1 Benfica
Week 27
Rio Ave 1-0 Maritimo
Sporting 5-1 Arouca
V. Setúbal 0-1 FC Porto
Académica 0-3 Estoril
Nacional 3-2 V. Guimarães
P. Ferreira 0-0 Moreirense
Tondela 2-2 Belenenses
Boavista 0-1 Benfica
Braga 2-0 União da Madeira
by Patrick Ribeiro
