Portuguese Football in English
As the excitement of Sporting’s win over Benfica last weekend begins to settle, there’s no break in the Primeira Liga drama as Sporting play their game in hand against Famalicão in midweek and have the opportunity to go at least seven points clear at the top of the table.
There’s also a huge game in the fight for survival as 17th-placed Vizela take on 18th-placed Chaves in a must-win game for both teams.
Benfica have the advantage in the Europa League quarter-finals after a 2-1 victory against Marseille 2-1 at Estádio da Luz.
Alexander Bah missed a great chance early on before the Eagles went ahead in the 16th minute. Rafa started and finished a fine team move as the Eagles took a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Eagles doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute after João Neves released Ángel Di María, the Argentine playing a 1-2 with Neres and finding the net from close range.
Marseille got back into the game in the 67thminute after a sequence of errors from Florentino and António Silva, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang surging into the box and beating Anatoliy Trubin.
Neither team went close to adding to their tallies, the tie finely poised before the second leg at Stade Vélodrome next week.
Third spot is up for grabs in the Primeira Liga after Vitória de Guimarães produced a surprise 2-1 victory against Porto at Estádio do Dragão.
Galeno headed into his own net early on before Guimarães doubled their lead in the 33rd minute. Jota Silva had too much speed for Pepe, the forward racing clear and beating Diogo Costa from close range.
Galeno redeemed himself on the stroke of half-time, using his pace and finesse to finish off a fine team move and provide the crowd with some much needed optimism.
There would be no second half comeback however, the Dragons’ chances dealt a big blow in the 69th minute when Pepe was sent off for dissent.
Porto threw players forward but were unable to find an equaliser, Sérgio Conceição’s side now sitting two points ahead of Braga and Vitória with six games remaining.
A second pulsating Lisbon derby in five days again ended with the green half of the Portuguese capital smiling as Sporting beat Benfica 2-1 to go four points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand.
Geny Catamo gave Sporting a dream start by scoring inside the opening minute, but Benfica came back strongly and equalised in first-half stoppage time via an Alexander Bah header.
There were chances at both ends in the second period, but the Mozambican right-back proved the hero of the night by smashing a ferocious effort into the roof the net in stoppage time to send the crowd into apoplectic celebrations and fire the Lions ever closer to becoming the 2023/24 champions of Portugal.
This weekend the biggest game for the rest of the season is upon us as league leaders Sporting host rivals Benfica at the Estádio José Alvalade.
The encounter has the makings of a genuine title decider, especially if Sporting were to win and extend their lead at the top of the table to 4 points with a game in hand, and only six rounds to go afterwards. For Benfica, you sense this is their last chance to wrestle the Primeira Liga trophy from the grip of their cross-town rivals.
PortuGOAL previews the massive match and the rest of the weekend action.
