Another weekend of Portuguese Primeira Liga action saw a considerable shift in the title race as defending champions fell to another surprising defeat, allowing rivals Porto to open up a six point gap at the summit.

Vitória Guimarães arrested some poor form to move into the top six, while Santa Clara’s recent revival continued by overcoming Moreirense.

Another team to reverse some slumping form was Vizela, who contested the match of the round in a thrilling win against Tondela. Brazilian striker Cassiano supplied the firepower and late drama on the night, and is in focus as our PortuGOAL Figure of the Week.

• Benfica
• Sporting,
• Sporting de Braga,
• Luis Diaz
• FC Famalicao
• Darwin Nunez
• Arouca
• Jean Gorby
• Otavio

Sporting have conceded more ground in the race for the Primeira Liga title after their 2-1 loss at home to Braga was met by a FC Porto 3-1 victory at home to Famalicão.

The Lions saw a 1-0 lead turn into a 2-1 defeat at the Alvalade after a late Jean-Baptiste Gorby goal for Braga, registering 'the Green & Whites' first league defeat at home for over 22 months.

Sporting’s loss was followed up by Porto’s success at home to FC Famalicão as goals from Otávio, Luis Díaz and Mehdi Taremi took the Dragons on to a 3-1 victory, creating a six-point advantage at the top of the table.

Elsewhere, Benfica were reuniting themselves with the taste of victory after a fairly routine showing away to Arouca, with a goal each from Darwin Nuñez and Gonçalo Ramos to secure a 2-0 triumph.

The majority of Liga Bwin 2021/22’s eighteenth round of fixtures took place this weekend in a draw-heavy set of matches. In-form Boavista and Gil Vicente cancelled each other out to begin the action, while Benfica lost ground in the title race after being held by a newly-managed Moreirense.

Marítimo continued their revival under new coach Vasco Seabra with an impressive win at Braga, while Santa Clara and Tondela played out an entertaining 2-2.

At the top Porto maintained their leadership by coming from behind to beat Belenenses SAD. Brazilian striker Evanilson was a hat-trick hero on the night and is our PortuGOAL Figure of the Week.

• Benfica
• Moreirense
• Primeira Liga,
• Sporting,
• FC Porto,
• Belenenses
• Evanilson
• Vizela

Porto have held onto their three-point-lead at the top of the Primeira Liga after coming back from a one-goal-deficit to beat Belenenses SAD 4-1 away from home, this Sunday.

The Dragons went a goal down early to the hosts before a hat-trick from Brazilian forward Evanilson charged Sérgio Conceição’s men onto a 4-1 win versus the ten men of B SAD.

Also in the Portuguese capital, there was yet more disappointment for Benfica who drew 1-1 at home against lowly-placed Moreirense. The Eagles’ rivals, Sporting, did their bit away to Vizela with a 2-0 victory, reopening a six-point gap between the Lions and third place.