• Sporting,
• Ruben Amorim

Few Sporting fans could have imagined that the club would be top of the table with a ten-point lead at the start of April. In fact, anyone who did predict that may well have become a medical marvel for their precognitive abilities – it seemed impossible. To make things even better for Sportinguistas, it’s the academy that has been the driving force behind the so-far undefeated season that might finally end the club’s long wait for the league title.

Last year we examined Rúben Amorim’s youth revolution, expecting a longer period of rebuilding. But now, these young players have already become the core of a potentially title-winning team. PortuGOAL takes a closer look at each of Amorim’s youngsters and assesses how they have performed this season.

The 2020/21 season will go down in football history as one of the most unusual ever all around the world. The Covid-19 pandemic led to a full campaign without spectators in the stadiums and an extremely compressed match schedule with games seemingly taking place non-stop.

Nonetheless, the beautiful game has again delivered in bringing entertainment and no little light relief during these concerning times for so many. And in Portugal, as the season moves into the home straight, there is no lack of excitement with plenty of big outcomes still hanging in the balance.

With 10 matches of the 34-game Primeira Liga remaining, PortuGOAL looks at the state of play in the Liga NOS. 

Liga NOS now takes a break for international football to resume, and the league has been left finely poised after the Round 24 action. Sporting’s league title dream got a step closer to reality after a narrow win over Vitória Guimarães, with Porto maintaining their fainter hopes by beating Portimonense. Benfica’s good run continued as they boosted their Champions League aspirations over fellow contenders Braga.

The relegation battle is one that is carrying much of the intrigue for the remainder of this campaign, and that contest grew ever tighter this week. Farense and Gil Vicente were big winners, plunging strugglers Boavista and Nacional further into the mire.

One side at the wrong end who has built up serious momentum is Famalicão, buoyed by the recent appointment of manager Ivo Vieira. The PortuGOAL Figure of the Week has done a great job in his short time in charge and led his team to a vital victory over relegation rivals Marítimo.  

• Benfica
• Primeira Liga,
• Liga NOS,
• Sporting,
• FC Porto,
• Sporting de Braga,
• Vitória de Guimarães,

Benfica have leapfrogged Sporting de Braga in the Primeira Liga table after defeating the Arsenalistas 2-0 away from home, this Sunday.

Goals from Rafa Silva and Haris Seferovic powered the Eagles to victory against Braga, who were forced to play much of the encounter down to ten men after Fransérgio’s first-half dismissal.

Elsewhere, FC Porto battled for victory in Portimão with two Portimonense own goals handing them a 2-1 win against the lowly-placed outfit. Sporting, in response, kept up appearances soon after against the might of Vitória, needing just one goal from Gonçalo Inácio to renew a ten-point advantage held over second-placed Porto going into the international break.