Santa Clara made a spectacular start to life back in the Primeira Liga by outplaying Estoril Praia to register a 4-1 victory in the season opener at a sunbaked Estádio António Coimbra da Mota this afternoon.
Alejandro Marques gave Estoril the lead in the 19th minute against the run of play but Vinícius Lopes equalised for the islanders on the stroke of half time.
Alisson Safira from the penalty spot, and substitutes Ricardinho and João Costa scored in the second half for the visitors to maintain the momentum for last season’s Segunda Liga champions.

Sporting won 17 out of 17 home matches on their way to a championship triumph last season and the Lions began the new campaign with another convincing win at Alvalade against a largely inoffensive Rio Ave.
Braga’s Europa League hopes took a blow at the Quarry after a 0-0 draw against Servette in the third qualifying round first leg.
Three matches, three wins, eight goals scored and none conceded. New Vitória coach Rui Borges could not have made a better start to life in the dugout of the northern club following his summer appointment.