It was a positive matchday 5 for Portugal’s club’s in the Europa League. Sporting thrashed PSV 4-0 in Lisbon largely thanks to another masterful performance by captain Bruno Fernandes to guarantee their place in the knockout phase of the competition. Braga played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Quarry against Wolves to also progress to the round of 32, and like Sporting go into the final match defending top spot in their group.

Porto looked in trouble when losing 1-0 away at Young Boys, but a late double by Aboubakar turned it around and gave the Dragons a deserved victory to rekindle their qualification hopes. In Guimarães, it was déjà vu for Vitória as another positive display was not translated into a just result, Ivo Vieira’s team having to settle for a 1-1 draw. PortuGOAL rounds up all the action. 

Mourinho’s Spurs come back in style

Benfica looked to have rekindled hopes of progressing to the knockout phase of the Champions League when they led Leipzig 2-0 close to the 90-minute mark in Germany. But two late goals for the hosts saw a highly entertaining match end all square and consign Benfica to fighting for a Europa League place in their final Group G match on 10 December.

Elsewhere, José Mourinho made a spectacular return to Europe’s foremost club competition as his Tottenham Hotspur side came from 2-0 down to beat Pedro Martins’ Olympiakos 4-2, with Portugal centre-back Rúben Semedo on the scoresheet for the Greek side. PortuGOAL rounds up all the Champions League action from the Portuguese point of view. 

Narrow victories saw the familiar duo of Benfica and Porto pull clearer at the top end of Liga NOS during an eventful Week 11. Famalicão lost ground on the aforementioned pair after throwing away a 3 goal lead to draw with Moreirense.

Braga defeated Vitória Guimarães in the Minho derby, while promoted sides Paços Ferreira and Gil Vicente both gained vital victories.

This edition of the PortuGOAL Figure of the Week focuses on Sporting though, who have been through a tough time of late but found solace on Sunday night through a standout turn from Luciano Vietto, who struck twice to see off Lisbon neighbours Belenenses.

• Benfica
• Primeira Liga,
• Liga NOS,
• Sporting,
• FC Porto,
• Sporting de Braga,
• Vitória de Guimarães,
• Pizzi
• Famalicao
• Luciano Vietto

Benfica held onto top spot with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Santa Clara away from home in a week where all of the ‘Big Three’ members claimed wins.

Goals from Vinícius and Pizzi turned the game on its head in Azores to clinch all three points for the Eagles on Saturday night, securing more time in command of the Liga NOS table.

Sporting made handy progress of their own at home to Belenenses, sinking their city neighbours with a Luciano Vietto double in a 2-0 win, prior to F.C. Porto’s 1-0 victory in the Invicta Derby against Boavista.

Elsewhere, league sensations Famalicão conceded further ground in their ventures near the top, succumbing to a Moreirense comeback to draw 3-3, meanwhile Sporting de Braga were the big victors in the Minho Derby with a 2-0 away win over Vitória de Guimarães. Here’s how the Matchday 11 unfolded.