Following a mixed week in Europe for Portugal’s biggest emblems, it was time to divert attention to the domestic scene and Matchday Six of the Liga NOS.
Sporting pressed on from their triumph in Greece with a convincing 2-0 win at home to Tondela, whereas city rivals Benfica endured back-to-back 2-1 defeats, this time at the hands of Boavista, to slip down to 4th in the standings.
FC Porto bounced back from their midweek disappointment with a 2-1 victory away to Rio Ave. Meanwhile, the main event up north saw Sporting de Braga come out on top in the Minho Derby against Vitória de Guimarães, celebrating a 2-1 win. PortuGOAL brings you the top weekend action.
To watch the highlights of the four matches featured below, click on the play button on the respective screen.
Boavista 2-1 Benfica
Following a surprising early season reshuffle of the club’s backroom staff (Nuno Gomes out, Simão Sabrosa in) and a Champions League opening day defeat to CSKA Moscow, Benfica were, in typical Portuguese fashion, a loss away from what many would like to coin as a crisis.
Ljubomir Fejsa’s continued absence won’t have eased Rui Vitória’s sleep prior to their trip to the Bessa, with the Eagles notoriously poorer without the Serbian in the line-up, but an early headed goal from Jonas promised to calm the fretful ambience a little.
Benfica totted up the shots at goal throughout the first half without adding to the score, and after the break Renato Santos went on to replicate Jonas’ sharp eye for goal at the beginning of the second period, consequently bringing Boavista level in the 55th minute.
The Black Panthers compounded Benfica’s misery in the 74th minute, with a Bruno Varela howler facilitating the conversion of an ambitious Fábio Espinho free-kick that would clinch all three points for new Boavista manager Jorge Simão.
After the game, Benfica boss Vitória was quick to reassure the club’s fan base, stating that the qualities required to win four league titles “aren’t lost from one day to another.”
Sporting 2-0 Tondela
With none other than Cristiano Ronaldo in attendance at the Estádio José Alvalade, Sporting welcomed Tondela with the view of making it six wins from six in the league.
The Lions were quick to assume command of the game, leading by the 12th minute via a well-placed free-kick from the ever-impressive Jeremy Mathieu.
Despite further dominance, Sporting took until the 72nd minute to extend their lead, as Bruno Fernandes added to his highlight reel with another beauty from range, finalising a 2-0 win.
Clearly pleased with his team’s form, Jesus did stress that “it’s not how you begin, but how you end (the season) that matters,” as the Green and Whites sharpen their case for a title charge.
Rio Ave 1-2 FC Porto
The Dragons were naturally keen to keep up with Sporting at the top of the table but would need to overcome a buoyant Rio Ave away from home beforehand.
A set-piece goal from Danilo Pereira’s head pushed Porto in the right direction come the 55th minute, after Yacine Brahimi and Vincent Aboubakar had come close to breaking the deadlock prior to the defensive midfielder’s opener.
Moussa Marega doubled Porto’s lead in the 67th minute, before Rio Ave responded through a composed finish by Nuno Santos inside the box.
Marcão’s late red card dampened the hosts’ hopes of drawing level as Porto climbed above Sporting on goal difference, both baring a five-point-advantage over slow-starters Benfica.
Sp. Braga 2-1 Vit. Guimarães
Both Braga and Guimarães began the season as obvious challengers to ‘the Big Three’ norm but have found consistency hard to come by in these early stages of the Liga NOS campaign.
A derby win can sometimes go a long way to revitalising a season, however, and it was Braga who got the upper hand when Paulinho struck gold in the 23rd minute with a diving header at the back post.
An insecure Matheus allowed Raphinha fire the ball under him in the 38th minute and draw Guimarães level, but the equaliser wasn’t to live on beyond the first period, as Hassan nodded Os Guerreiros back into the lead on the brink of half-time.
Abel Ferreira’s team held onto their one-goal advantage at full time, claiming the first set of bragging rights for the Europa League hopefuls and pushing the club up to 6th in the league table.
By Patrick Ribeiro
Matchday 6
P. Ferreira 1-0 Vit. Setúbal
Marítimo 2-1 Desp. Aves
Boavista 2-1 Benfica
Sporting 2-0 Tondela
Belenenses 2-1 Estoril
Rio Ave 1-2 FC Porto
Sp. Braga 2-1 Vit. Guimarães
Portimonense 2-1 Feirense
Chaves 3-0 Moreirense
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