• Benfica
• AVS

Benfica's eight match winning streak in the Primeira Liga came to an end in Vila das Aves where they conceded a late goal against AVS in a 1-1 draw.

Zeki Amdouni made the most of a rare start to open the scoring in the 17th minute, exchanging passes with Fredrik Aursnes and Kerem Aktürkoglu before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.

Orkun Kökçü and Kerem Aktürkoğlu had chances before the break but Benfica failed to carry the momentum into the second half. Anatoliy Trubin saved a sharp volley from Nenê before the 41-year-old striker headed Lucas Piazón's cross against the post.

AVS piled on the pressure as the game opened up and were rewarded deep into added time after a dumb foul by Benjamín Rollheiser. Piazón's free kick was headed into the danger area by Baptiste Roux, Cristian Devenish getting above Rollheiser and heading the ball past Trubin.

Daniel Ramos and his side deserve a lot of credit for turning the tide after a one sided first half. The Eagles missed a great opportunity to maintain the pressure on Sporting Clube de Portugal who hold onto their lead at the top of the table.

Sporting ended a series of four straight defeats by beating Boavista 3-2 at Alvalade tonight. The Lions attacked the visitors incessantly virtually the whole match, but once again revealed a defensive insecurity that has dogged the team since Ruben Amorim left.

Viktor Gyökeres put Sporting ahead midway through the first half, but Boavista equalised on the stroke of half time from their only effort up until then, by Róbert Bozenik.

A Francisco Trincão brace in the second half earned the Portuguese champions the three points, although in between Boavista equalised for a second time through Bruno Onyemaechi and the performance will do little to ease Sporting supporters’ worries about the capacities of the new coach João Pereira. 

Saturday’s Primeira Liga match between Sporting CP and Boavista FC sees two of Portugal’s most storied clubs face off in a fascinating midseason encounter. Both sides enter the Journada 14 fixture in desperate need of points after staggering over the last few weeks.  

Sporting remain top of the league standings, but a string of poor results sees the Lisbon club struggling at a critical stage. With rivals SL Benfica and FC Porto both on their heels, Sporting will be feeling the pressure after failing to secure a single point from their last four matches.

Boavista’s paper thin squad continues to scrape and battle for points over the early part of the season, with the Porto club hovering just over the relegation zone in 14th position. A visit to the Estádio José Alvalade will be the ultimate test for Os Axadrezados who will be aiming for their first league win since November 2. 

From Lev Yashin to Rinat Dasayev, Russia’s footballing history is filled with imposing goalkeepers who have left their mark on the game for club and country. And at 27 years of age, Ivan Zlobin is well on his way to announcing himself as Russia’s next top shot-stopper.

Zach Lowy profiles the goalkeeper who travelled the length of Europe to pursue his dream, had to show resilience, but has found a happy home in Famalicão.