It was expected to be a big test of Benfica’s title credentials on Friday night, as high-flying Braga visited the Portuguese capital.

Over 60,000 fans packed into the Estádio da Luz and two hours later the vast majority of them left the venue in euphoric mood after goals from Mitroglou (x2), Jonas (penalty), Pizzi and Samaris led to a thumping 5-1 win for the home side. Pedro Santos scored a late consolation from the penalty spot for Braga.

Benfica move a step closer to lifting a third successive Portuguese championship.

• Boavista

Back in July, I wrote an article on this site documenting how Boavista were preparing for the club’s second season back in the top-flight (click here for more on that). Within that article, I asked if the club might fall foul of the infamous “Second Season Syndrome” which affects so many sides around the world after a positive debut season at a higher level. Unfortunately for Os Axadrezados such as myself, it looks very much as though that has indeed been the case.

Let’s be clear, what the club achieved under Petit’s tutelage last season was nothing shy of a miracle. Having been promoted not one, but two levels into the Liga NOS, few gave the club any chance of avoiding the wooden spoon. However, thanks to shrewd signings and a collective battling spirit in the camp, the side from Oporto not only managed to avoid relegation, but did it comfortably with a 13th place finish and an 11 point cushion from the drop zone.

There can be little, if any, margin for error as we enter the final corner of the Liga NOS season, with matchday 27 looking to throw a spanner in the works for all of Portugal’s traditional ‘Big Three’.

In clear sight of top spot, Sporting hosted high-flying Arouca at the Estádio José Alvalade, whose hopes of playing European football could soon make its transition from a pipe dream to reality after recent outings.

The Estádio do Bonfim was the venue for the clash between top tier mainstays Vitória de Setúbal and FC Porto, both now with an outside chance of achieving their goals this season, whereas as far as the big boys go, Benfica closed the weekend away to relegation candidate Boavista.

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League and Europa League this morning paired Benfica with German powerhouse Bayern Munich and Braga with Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk.

When you are in the last eight of the world's greatest club competition there is no such thing as an "easy draw", but nevertheless the Portuguese Champions would have been hoping to avoid Pep Guardiola's side. The first leg is in Munich, and Benfica's initial goal will be to keep the tie alive ahead of the 2nd leg at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon.

Braga meanwhile, fresh from knocking out Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, will feel they have a fighting chance against the Ukrainians. In contrast to the two knockout stage ties they have negotiated in this year's Europa League, Paulo Fonseca's side play at home in the first leg.