• Benfica
• Sporting,
• Taça da Liga
• Everton
• Goncalo Inacio
• Pablo Sarabia

Benfica 1-2 Sporting

Sporting have won the Taça da Liga for the second season in a row after coming back from a goal down to defeat Benfica 2-1 in Leiria, this Saturday.

The Lions took a blow 21 minutes in after Everton Cebolinha, somewhat against the run of play, placed Benfica a goal up with a left-footed strike.

Just five minutes into the second half, however, Sporting were back level against their Lisbon rivals before a Pablo Sarabia strike in the 79th minute made all the difference in a 2-1 triumph.

Lisbon giants oust Boavista and Santa Clara

This week’s Taça da Liga semi-finals saw the favourites win through against the underdogs to set up the expected final, on Saturday night, but neither Benfica nor Sporting had it all their own way.  

The Final Four phase of the competition, this season being played in Leiria, kicked off on Tuesday night. Despite taking a first half lead, Benfica were second best for long periods of their match against Boavista. The northerners deservedly equalised after the break and were eventually only beaten in a penalty shootout.

On Wednesday night, Sporting were not much more convincing in their semi-final, and had to come from the behind to get the better of Santa Clara. PortuGOAL has the match reports and video highlights. 

Another weekend of Portuguese Primeira Liga action saw a considerable shift in the title race as defending champions fell to another surprising defeat, allowing rivals Porto to open up a six point gap at the summit.

Vitória Guimarães arrested some poor form to move into the top six, while Santa Clara’s recent revival continued by overcoming Moreirense.

Another team to reverse some slumping form was Vizela, who contested the match of the round in a thrilling win against Tondela. Brazilian striker Cassiano supplied the firepower and late drama on the night, and is in focus as our PortuGOAL Figure of the Week.

• Benfica
• Sporting,
• Sporting de Braga,
• Luis Diaz
• FC Famalicao
• Darwin Nunez
• Arouca
• Jean Gorby
• Otavio

Sporting have conceded more ground in the race for the Primeira Liga title after their 2-1 loss at home to Braga was met by a FC Porto 3-1 victory at home to Famalicão.

The Lions saw a 1-0 lead turn into a 2-1 defeat at the Alvalade after a late Jean-Baptiste Gorby goal for Braga, registering 'the Green & Whites' first league defeat at home for over 22 months.

Sporting’s loss was followed up by Porto’s success at home to FC Famalicão as goals from Otávio, Luis Díaz and Mehdi Taremi took the Dragons on to a 3-1 victory, creating a six-point advantage at the top of the table.

Elsewhere, Benfica were reuniting themselves with the taste of victory after a fairly routine showing away to Arouca, with a goal each from Darwin Nuñez and Gonçalo Ramos to secure a 2-0 triumph.