In a week dominated by the happenings at Benfica, neither FC Porto nor Sporting could afford to take their eye off the ball, as they tussle for top spot before the first ‘Clássico’ of the season next Sunday.

The Dragons were first to take up their positions, welcoming a fearless Portimonense side to the Estádio do Dragão before toppling the newly-promoted club with an entertaining 5-2 victory. The mood grew even sweeter for Sérgio Conceição’s team when Sporting scuppered the chance to make it seven wins from seven games with a 1-1 draw away to Moreirense, as the Lions fell two points behind the league leaders.

Last but not least, in a bid to dampen the critics, Benfica rounded up Saturday’s footballing action with a comfortable 2-0 win. As always, PortuGOAL brings you all the action at the top of the Liga NOS table.

After a disastrous recruitment campaign (bar the capture of Bas Dost) in the summer of 2016, Sporting appear to have learned from their mistakes.

A series of signings this close season have made an immediate and highly positive impact, as attested by a record of eight wins, two draws and zero defeats in ten games in all competitions in the new campaign.

One player in particular has been grabbing all the headlines, not least thanks to compiling a personal collection of goal-of-the-season contenders. But Bruno Fernandes brings far more to Sporting than goals. Patrick Ribeiro explains why.

It’s early on, for sure, but there have been plenty of great performances in the Liga NOS this season already.

Much has been written about the impact of in-form players at Portugal’s biggest clubs, such as Bruno Fernandes and Aboubakar at Sporting and Porto respectively, but in this article PortuGOAL turns the focus on some of the stand-out performers in the Primeira Liga’s more modest teams.

Football analyst Tiago Estêvão lists his top four players (with a bonus two honourable mentions) outside of the Big 3 who have done most to impress in the opening six matchdays.

New star in the Liga NOS

23-year-old Japanese winger Shoya Nakajima hasn’t been in Portugal for very long but has already made a noticeable impact for newly-promoted Portimonense.

The exciting new addition to the Primeira Liga is PortuGOAL’s Figure of the Week for Round 6 of the Liga NOS.

Jamie Farr explains why Nakajima is one to keep a close eye on.