If I asked you for the best dribbler in Liga Portugal, your mind might immediately think of senior attacking staples like Francisco Trincão, Bruma and Ángel Di María or Portuguese wonderkids Rodrigo Mora and Geovany Quenda, or even the inevitable Viktor Gyökeres – but you would be very wrong.

Óscar Aranda stands alone as the player with the most dribbles completed and fouls suffered – the undisputed 1v1 king in Portugal, making the difference for the Azuis e Brancos in an uncharacteristically stable season. Óscar Aranda is the latest PortuGOAL Figure of the Week, and it was long overdue. Kevin Fernandes reports. 

Sporting failed in their attempt to reclaim top spot in the Primeira Liga, drawing 1-1 at home to Braga, thus enabling Benfica to go two points clear at the summit with six matches remaining in the 2024/25 season.

The Lions started strongly, Viktor Gyökeres scoring directly from a free kick after earlier having a goal ruled out because he was three centimetres offside.

The domination of the home team subsided as Braga came back into it, but with time ticking away it seemed Sporting would hold on until late substitute Afonso Patrão headed in a dramatic equaliser in the 87th minute.

The point is enough for Braga to overtake Porto and move up to third place in the league, while Sporting must now play catchup against Lisbon rivals Benfica. 

Unheard of. Benfica thrashed Porto 4-1 at the Estádio do Dragão tonight. It was only the second time Benfica have scored four goals at the home of their fiercest rivals – the previous occasion was in 1943!

The Eagles completely outplayed the hosts from start to finish. As well as the four goals, Benfica hit the post twice and had several other opportunities to pile on the misery for Porto’s supporters.  

Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis was the hero of the night for the Lisbon outfit netting a hat-trick. Samu Aghehowa pulled one back for Porto, but Benfica captain Nicolás Otamendi put the cherry on the cake for the visitors to make it 4-1 – the same scoreline as when the two teams met at the Estádio da Luz earlier this season.

Benfica are in rude health, clocking up a 9th successive victory in the Primeira Liga as they continue firm in their fight for the title with Lisbon rivals Sporting. For Porto, it’s back to the drawing board with new president André Villas-Boas under increasing pressure. 

AVS 0-3 Estoril

Despite their brilliant form in the calendar year of 2025 (only two defeats to Sporting and Porto), Scottish coach Ian Cathro has insisted he wants more from his Estoril team, preaching that fighting for a European place should become the norm.

And the Canarinhos put in another sparkling performance tonight, making light of the driving rain for most of the 90 minutes by playing some lovely football and completely outclassing AVS.

It was a night to remember for young Portuguese striker André Lacximicant, who bagged his first hat-trick in senior football.