It was a highly successful week for Portuguese teams in the UEFA competitions, with four wins and one draw in five matches.
At the exact mid-point of the league phase of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, PortuGOAL looks at the prospects of Portugal’s representatives in European competition this season.
Champions League
Back in Europe’s premier competition, Porto had a nightmare start to their campaign with three straight defeats, two of which were at home to seriously compromise their future in the tournament.
But Francesco Farioli’s men bounced back in style on Wednesday, thrashing Lazio 4-1 at Estádio do Dragão to get themselves back in contention for progress to the knockouts.
Porto’s final two games at home to Slavia Prague and away to LASK Linz look winnable, but in the new format 9 points have not always been enough to avoid elimination. Indeed, two years ago teams were knocked out having accumulated 11 points in the league phase.
The next two matches, both away, against Feyenoord and Liverpool, will likely determine Porto’s future in the competition, with points required from them.
Prediction: Porto to squeeze into the playoffs
Sporting overhauled their squad in the close-season and have been inconsistent domestically, resulting in the sacking of coach Rui Borges, who has been replaced by Paulo Fonseca. However, the Lions have followed up their best ever performance in the Champions League last season with another solid campaign this time round.
Tuesday’s 1-0 victory against Shakhtar in London made it three wins in four matches to leave the Lisbon outfit in 10th place in the standings, and help boost Portugal’s ranking in the UEFA coefficients table. The best online Casino Canada rankings are also available.
Sporting face a tough schedule in their remaining matches in this phase, with games to come against Manchester United (home), Roma (away), Barcelona (home) and Manchester City (away).
Prediction: Sporting to qualify for the playoff round
Europa League
Benfica are flying under Marco Silva. The Eagles have swept all before them, including a highly impressive 2-0 victory against Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan in Italy.
Four wins out of four, 13 goals scored and three conceded sees the Portuguese giants sitting pretty at the summit of the 36-team league.
Benfica were touted as potential contenders to win the trophy at the start of the season, and their performances to date have only confirmed they can legitimately aspire to go all the way.
Prediction: Benfica to secure automatic qualification for the last 16 (top 8) with games to spare.
Just competing in Europe is a triumph for Torreense, in what has been the most memorable year in the club’s history. The team from Torres Vedras are the only one of the 108 clubs in UEFA’s three club competitions who do not play in their respective country’s top flight.
But they are not there just for a party. Torreense’s sensational 3-2 comeback victory against Ararat Armenia last night made it two wins from four matches and 19th position in the league.
Tough assignments lie ahead though, with regular European competitors Celtic, Real Sociedad and Olympiacos on the schedule, as well as a tricky trip to Polish champions Lech Poznan.
Prediction: Torreense to just miss out on the playoffs.
Conference League
After reaching the Europa League semi-finals last season, Braga had high hopes of going deep in the Conference League.
An indifferent start – one defeat, one win and one draw – and poor domestic form has tempered those ambitions somewhat, but the next three opponents, from Finland, Norway and Albania appear to give Braga excellent chances of making progress.
Three wins must be the aim, which would put Braga on 13 points. That would be more than enough to qualify directly for the round of 16 based on the last two years of the competition in this format.
Prediction: Braga to squeeze into the top eight and qualify automatically for the round of 16.
