• Benfica
• Primeira Liga,
• Liga NOS,
• Sporting de Braga,
• Bruno Fernandes

A Bruno Fernandes hat-trick, making the Portuguese playmaker the highest-scoring midfielder in history on 31 goals, powered Sporting to an eye-popping 8-1 victory over Belenenses, this Sunday, as the third-placed Lions confirmed their spot on the Primeira Liga podium for yet another season.

Marcel Keizer's men responded to big wins around them in the league table, starting with Benfica's 5-1 triumph over Portimonense at the Estádio da Luz that left the Eagles needing just four points to clinch the Liga title, as the Portuguese footballing season nears its conclusion.

FC Porto reciprocated with a 4-0 victory at home to Desportivo das Aves on Saturday night, meanwhile Sporting de Braga renewed their poor form with an away loss to Marítimo, 1-0, and surrender in the race for third place. PortuGOAL has more from the crux of the Primeira Liga campaign.

Week 31 of Liga NOS 2018/19 saw a significant shift in the title race as Benfica took full advantage of a late Porto slip away at Rio Ave to further enhance their hopes of wrestling the championship back off their fierce rivals.

Benfica hammered Braga, who now look destined for 4th place after a late season slump, of which a more consistent of late Sporting have benefited from. Moreirense continued to struggle to fully wrap up 5th place, although have been aided by similar drops in form for the other contenders Vitória Guimarães and Belenenses, the trio all tasting defeat this weekend.

Much remains to be decided down at the bottom though, and having looked adrift a few weeks back it is Chaves who are on the charge, thrashing fellow relegation battlers Nacional to make it 7 points from their last available 9. Brazilian striker William boosted their survival hopes with a timely trio on Sunday afternoon, and he is PortuGOAL’s Figure of the Week.

• Benfica
• Primeira Liga,
• Sporting,
• FC Porto,
• Sporting de Braga,

Benfica have moved one step closer to celebrating success in the Primeira Liga after a 4-1 win versus Sporting de Braga opened up a two-point-advantage at the top of the table, this Sunday.

FC Porto had their title hopes deflated on Friday night after giving up a 2-0 lead over Rio Ave late on to draw 2-2 away from home, having initially trailed the Eagles on head-to-head results.

A victory for Bruno Lage’s men away from home offers them margin for error with three league games to go, leaving Sporting to take advantage of Braga’s demise to go six points ahead in third place after victory in their game at home to Vitória de Guimarães. PortuGOAL brings you up to speed with the peak of the action in a potentially decisive week of Primeira Liga football.

As Liga NOS 2018/19 rapidly approaches its climax, Week 30 saw the official exit from the division of Feirense, officially relegated before they kicked a ball by virtue of Aves’ excellent win away at Vitória Guimarães.

Tondela and Chaves boosted their own survival hopes with vital 1-0 wins, while the top 4 remained as they were after all recording victories to nil.

The sides below that top 4 bracket all struggled though as the aforementioned Vitória were joined by Moreirense and Belenenses in suffering defeat, the latter at the hands of a recently improved Rio Ave side, who largely had striker Bruno Moreira to thank in recording an impressive 3-1 win at Jamor on Saturday.