Portuguese Football in English
Benfica are through to the Champions League play-offs after beating Midtjylland 3-1 in Denmark. Goals to Enzo Fernández and Henrique Araújoestablished a 2-0 lead at Randers Stadium, Pione Sisto volleying home to get the hosts back in the contest in the 63rd mnute.
The gulf in class was evident throughout however, the Danish club never a threat of overturning the deficit with Diogo Gonçalves scoring a peach to seal the deal in the 88th minute.
Portugal’s Primeira Liga returned for the 2022/23 edition this weekend and with it PortuGOAL’s Figure of the Week series is back.
The opening round of fixtures’ standout game looked to be Braga vs Sporting and this premonition did not disappoint as the pair played out a 3-3 thriller.
League newcomers Rio Ave, Chaves and Casa Pia all struggled, failing to score in their respective matches although the latter did pick up a creditable point at Santa Clara.
Defending champions Porto looked hungry to retain their crown and started perfectly by battering Marítimo. Iranian frontman Mehdi Taremi grabbed two goals to continue his excellent recent form for the club.
No more than seven weeks later, the Portuguese Primeira Liga was back in our cities, towns and living rooms to promise boundless joy and drama.
Benfica kicked the season off with a 4-0 win versus Arouca before FC Porto commenced the defence of their league title by thrashing Marítimo 5-1 at home.
The ‘main event’ between Sporting de Braga and Rúben Amorim’s Sporting also delivered, providing a thrilling 3-3 draw, but this wasn’t even half of the action on show as Estoril, Famalicão, new boys Casa Pia and Chaves and main-stays Vitória and Boavista all entertained the nation. Here’s how they fared…
Sporting Braga and Sporting Clube de Portugal started their Primeira Liga campaigns with a spectacular 3-3 draw at the Quarry.
It was an electric opening to the contest with Pote putting the Lions ahead in the 9th minute, Simon Banza equalising five minutes later, Nuno Santos restoring Sporting CP's lead in the 18th minute and Sikou Niakaté equalising on the stroke of half-time.
The second half appeared to be cruising towards a tame conclusion before the game came alive in the final 10 minutes. Marcus Edwards was on hand to score in the 83rd minute but Braga wouldn't be denied, Abel Ruiz converting in the 88th minute.
PortuGOAL's Matthew Marshall reports from Estádio Municipal de Braga.
Porto made a promising start to their Primeira Liga title defence with a routine 5-1 win against Marítimo. Mehdi Taremi netted twice in the first half with Evanilson getting in on the act to establish a 3-0 lead at the break.
The Madeiran club had a night to forget on the mainland with further goals scored by Iván Marcano and Toni Martínez making it five. Claudio Winck scored late consolation in the dying minutes of a match that Vasco Seabra and his team will want to forget as soon as possible.
