Portuguese Football in English
FC Porto’s UEFA Champions League campaign came to a close after a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the quarter-final second leg. Substitute Mehdi Taremi scored a screamer deep into added time, not enough to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg.
It was always going to be a cautious game in Sevilla with Chelsea defending a healthy advantage. The Blues had little reason to open up and with their defence one of the best in Europe, Porto were always going to be up against it.
The 26th week of Liga NOS 2020/21 was something of a goal-laden affair, a thrilling 3-3 draw between Boavista and Rio Ave one of the weekend’s highlights. Santa Clara put five past beleaguered Nacional, while in-form Portimonense routed Vitória Guimarães 3-0 in the Algarve.
The title race also heated up as first-placed Sporting dropped points to Famalicão, allowing Porto to close the gap with victory at Tondela.
Another side who took advantage of leaders drawing was their bitter local rivals Benfica, who continued their superb recent results by hammering Paços Ferreira. The Eagles’ Swiss striker Haris Seferović is the PortuGOAL Figure of the Week after starring once again for Jorge Jesus’ side.
FC Porto have cut the gap at the top of the Primeira Liga to six points after Sporting were unable to go beyond a 1-1 draw at home to FC Famalicão, this Sunday.
The Dragons came out of Matchday 26 with a straight-forward 2-0 win versus Tondela, ramping up the pressure on Sporting before switching their attentions to next week’s UEFA Champions League second leg versus Chelsea.
Benfica were able to do the same with a challenging away trip to Paços de Ferreira made easier by an early Stephen Eustáquio red card and a positive Haris Seferovic showing in a 5-0 victory.
Sporting’s 1-1 draw at Alvalade completed a positive weekend for their rivals, as Sporting de Braga were also left disappointed with a home draw, drifting away in fourth place after failing to beat Belenenses.
Porto suffered a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg. Mason Mount opened the scoring before Ben Chilwell capitalised on an individual error to score in the 85th minute.
Sérgio Conceição’s side created chances at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium and will be disappointed to give away a cheap goal in the closing stages. The Dragons have a mountain to climb in order to overturn the deficit in Sevilla next week.
Liga NOS returned after a busy international break for the 25th round of the campaign. League leaders Sporting suffered a rare slip up in a draw with Moreirense, allowing Porto, Benfica and Braga to make up some ground each with narrow victories.
The relegation battle continues to intrigue, Gil Vicente continuing some fine recent form to overcome Rio Ave while Portimonense piled on the misery for Nacional in dishing out a 5-1 thrashing. Boavista and Famalicão also steered away from trouble over Belenenses SAD and Paços Ferreira respectively.
Another team looking to leave relegation in the rear view mirror is Tondela as they climbed back into the top half of the league with an excellent triumph at Vitória Guimarães. Star striker and chief goal-getter Mario González was the difference for them once more and he is the PortuGOAL Figure of the Week.
