One week ago, loud noises were being made about how uncompetitive the Portuguese Primeira Liga was as the Big Three all won big.

Round Four suggested otherwise as in three terrifically intense matches Benfica dropped their first points of the season, at Rio Ave, while Sporting and Porto earned narrow victories over Estoril and Braga respectively.

Miguel Cardoso therefore becomes the first manager to take points off the Big Three in 12 matches. PortuGOAL rounds up the Week Four action and profiles Cardoso in our ‘Figure of the Week’ feature.

No let-up from front four

A theme of this nascent season is the way the Big Three are intent on imitating each other. After Benfica, Porto and Sporting all struggled to 1-0 wins in the second round of matches, in Round Three the traditional title candidates all thrashed their opponents, with star strikers Jonas, Aboubakar and Bas Dost among the goals.

Rio Ave are keeping up the pace, their 2-0 home win over Portimonense making sure the Vila do Conde side remain in the leading pack, also on 9 points after three games.

It sets up an exciting programme next week, with Rio Ave and Braga hosting Benfica and Porto respectively in the last round of matches before the international break. PortuGOAL rounds up the action and this week's Figure of the Week turns the spotlight on Bruno Fernandes.

As the European football season gets underway, most of the talk is still focused on who is going where, as we approach the final frenzied days of the transfer window. While the summer’s big news story centred around Neymar’s record breaking transfer from Barcelona to Paris St Germain, the world of football is still rife with speculation about other big name and big money signings.

Sporting’s William Carvalho lies right at the heart of the speculation, with West Ham and the Portuguese club reportedly close to sealing a deal for the Portugal holding midfielder. Meanwhile, in a another significant Primeira Liga move, Braga yesterday completed the sale of striker Rui Fonte to English Championship side Fulham for a fee of around €10m.

WeekTwo: Big Three made to work hard

Sporting, Porto and Benfica all won their second successive match in the Liga NOS, although all three were made to work hard for 1-0 victories.

Porto beat Tondela thanks to a first-half goal from the rejuvenated Vincent Aboubakar. Sporting left it late against Vitória Setúbal, needing an 86th-minute penalty committed against and converted by Bas Dost to collect all three points. Benfica left it even later, with impressive new centre-forward Seferovic scoring a stoppage time goal to beat a spirited Chaves side.

This week’s figure of the week goes to Braga’s exciting new find, Bruno Xadas, whose magnificent goal (see video below) sparked a comeback win for the Arsenalistas against Portimonense.