For the first time since Jornada 13, we have a new leader at the top of the Primeira Liga table, but all is not as it seems. Benfica’s 3-0 win over Gil Vicente saw them move into 1st place at the expense of Sporting, who’s game against Famalicão was postponed due to policing issues at the stadium.

Sporting will want to get straight back to winning ways this weekend but face a tough test hosting Braga at Alvalade, Benfica themselves face a difficult trip to Guimarães, and Porto, who dropped points against Rio Ave last weekend, travel to an Arouca side on good form.

On the face of it tough assignments await each of the current top four sides in the league. PortuGOAL previews the weekend action. 

• Benfica
• Primeira Liga,
• Gil Vicente
• Joao Neves
• Angel Di Maria
• Arthur Cabral

Benfica 3-0 Gil Vicente

Benfica have gone two points clear at the top of the Primeira Liga table after taking advantage of Sporting’s postponed fixture to overtake their rivals, following a 3-0 victory over Gil Vicente at the Estádio da Luz.

The Eagles entered the occasion in gear, reaching the half-hour mark with a two-goal lead, helped on by Arthur Cabral and João Neves finishes before the break.

Benfica landed a killer blow fresh from the restart, via Rafa Silva, with three goals in the Lisbon capital earning the hosts a jump to first place, moving six points clear of third-placed FC Porto.

• Primeira Liga,
• Rio Ave
• Galeno
• Sergio Conceicao
• Evanilson
• Jhonatan

FC Porto 0-0 Rio Ave

FC Porto have slipped up once more in the race for the Primeira Liga title after seeing two goals disallowed for offside maintain a 0-0 score-line at home to Rio Ave, this Saturday.

The Dragons thought they had led twice during the encounter, once through Galeno before Evanilson’s turn, but both goals were pulled up by VAR for being marginally offside.

Rio Ave were even forced to play the last five minutes of the game down to ten men but were able to survive the onslaught late on from Porto, earning the Vilacondenses an important draw and leaving their opponents, potentially, seven points off the top of the table.

The winter transfer window has closed and Portugal’s major teams can breathe a sigh of relief given that, unlike most seasons, they have not lost one or more of their best players to high-profile clubs/leagues.

That is not to say that no activity took place, however, with Benfica, Porto and Sporting all fine-tuning their squads ahead of the second half of the season. With the tightest Primeira Liga title race in years playing out, the business done in the last few weeks could be a crucial factor deciding who will be crowned champions of Portugal in May.

So who “won” the transfer window in Portugal? PortuGOAL summarises the moves made.