FC Porto 2-2 Sporting

It ended in chaos with red cards galore (5 for players, more brandished for technical staff), most shown after the final whistle had blown, and unfortunately the headlines will focus on the poor discipline that the referee was incapable of controlling.

But putting the controversy surrounding the officiating and poor player behaviour to one side, there was actually a riveting game of football played. As well as full-blooded commitment, the two best teams in Portugal produced moments of brilliance in a raucous atmosphere. Four excellent goals were scored as Porto maintained their 6-point lead at the top of the table.

Paulinho and Nuno Santos put the visitors into a 2-0 lead, but Fábio Vieira halved the deficit shortly before the interval. A red card for Sporting captain Sebastián Coates upon the restart gave Porto the initiative, Mehdi Taremi equalised on 78 minutes, but 10-man Sporting held on for the draw. 

Chaves beat Rio Ave 2-1 at Estádio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira to move up to third in the Segunda Liga.

Wellington Carvalho scored the opener in the 37th minute before turning provider two minutes later, his cross converted by João Batxi at the far post.

Rio Ave came home strong against 10 men after Nwankwo Obiora’s 70th minute red card, but Ronan’s added time goal was too little too late.

They don’t come much bigger than this. FC Porto host Sporting in the “Clássico” on Friday night at the Estádio do Dragão. The outcome of the match will likely have a huge bearing on whether it is the Dragons or the Lions celebrating as the 2021/22 champions of Portugal come May.

PortuGOAL previews what has the makings of a blockbuster match. 

Round 21 of the Liga Bwin win season went to type in terms of the upper echelons of the league table as the traditional “big three” all won to keep the title race as you were, Porto leading the way by six points.

A typically passionate “Minho” derby was contested between Vitória Guimarães and Braga, the former coming out on top in a dramatic finale. In-form Gil Vicente and Santa Clara both remained unbeaten courtesy of an entertaining draw between the pair.

Down at the bottom there was a significant change of fortunes as Moreirense clawed their way out of the relegation zone by beating fellow strugglers Belenenses SAD. Under new boss Ricardo Sá Pinto, Os Verdes es Brancos look a different beast and the explosively passionate manager is our PortuGOAL Figure of the Week.