Portugal’s top four teams continued to separate themselves from the pack in Liga Bwin’s twenty-ninth round of games this weekend. Porto took another step towards wrestling the title back from Sporting, who remained six points behind after the pair both recorded victories. Benfica and Braga cemented third and fourth place respectively after wins over Belenenses SAD and Vizela.

Paços Ferreira and Santa Clara edged into the top of the table, while Portimonense and Boavista also got important victories to distance themselves from the relegation dogfight.

Speaking on the latter point, one of the biggest victors of the round in this respect was Moreirense, who upset the odds to claim a massive three points away to high fliers Gil Vicente. The team’s newly acquired Brazilian midfielder Jefferson was the hero with two fine goals, and as a result is in focus as our PortuGOAL Figure of the Week. 

• Benfica
• Tondela
• Sporting,
• FC Porto,
• Vitória de Guimarães,
• Mehdi Taremi
• Sergio Conceicao
• Darwin Nunez
• Belenenses SAD
• Pablo Sarabia

City rivals Benfica and Sporting have finalised preparations for next weekend’s derby date with a victory each, as Porto continued their pursuit of the Primeira Liga title with another win.

The Eagles were the first up in the Portuguese capital, starring with a Darwin Nuñez hat-trick that served to take down Belenenses SAD at 3-1.

Sporting mimicked the result, away to Tondela, with goals from Pablo Sarabia and Gonçalo Inácio to keep Benfica at bay and the pressure on first-placed Porto.

In Guimarães, a first-half Mehdi Taremi penalty tipped the balance in a tight result for Sérgio Conceição’s men, defeating Vitória 1-0 to reinstate a six-point lead at the top and set a new record for invincibility in the Primeira Liga at 57 games. 

Braga 1-0 Rangers

Braga again showed they are a team to reckoned with on the continental stage with a vibrant and mature performance at the Quarry to win the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Rangers.

A first-half goal by Abel Ruiz proved the difference after 90 minutes, with Braga unable to turn their dominance for much of the game into further goals. It sets up a mouth-watering return match in Scotland next week. 

Benfica 1-3 Liverpool

An entertaining night at the Estádio da Luz saw Liverpool overcome Benfica 3-1 to put themselves in a strong position to make the last four of this season's Champions League. 

The English side dominated the first half and were good value for their 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Konaté and Sadio Mané. But Benfica came out all guns blazing after the break, pulled a goal back through Darwin Núñez and several times came close to drawing level. 

The equaliser did not come, however, and a late Luis Díaz goal all but sealed the tie for Liverpool.