“O Clássico” was the highlight on paper of Week 21 of Liga NOS, although Porto and Sporting’s encounter proved a tense 0-0 to leave the Lions in the title race driving seat. Benfica and Braga made up some ground on the pair by beating Rio Ave and Nacional respectively.

Paços Ferreira’s unbeaten run came to an end as Santa Clara swept them aside in front of an Azores crowd of spectators, while Tondela secured an important victory over Gil Vicente to climb into the top half of the table.

One team that has been stuttering of late is Vitória Guimarães but they got back on the winning trail against Boavista this weekend, they were inspired by PortuGOAL Figure of the Week Rochinha, who stepped in for the injured Ricardo Quaresma to decisive effect.

• Benfica
• Primeira Liga,
• Sporting de Braga,
• Rio Ave
• Abel Ruiz
• Nacional da Madeira

Sporting de Braga have risen up to second place after beating Nacional 2-1 in the wake of FC Porto’s 0-0 draw with Sporting, over the weekend.

The Arsenalistas registered three potentially crucial points away at the Choupana with first-half goals from Fransérgio and Abel Ruiz, in a lead that was later halved by a Brayan Riascos finish.

As Braga moved up the table, and with Paços de Ferreira also losing, Benfica cut the gap between them and Porto back down to three points after defeating Rio Ave 2-0 at home on Monday night. PortuGOAL has more on the rest of this weekend’s action. 

• Primeira Liga,
• Sporting,
• FC Porto,
• Mehdi Taremi

FC Porto 0-0 Sporting

Sporting have protected their ten-point advantage at the top of the Primeira Liga after drawing 0-0 at the Estádio do Dragão with second-placed FC Porto, this Saturday.

The Dragons were hopeful of handing the league leaders their first defeat of the campaign and cutting the Lions’ advantage down to seven points, in their bid to open the title race back up.

Two good opportunities for Mehdi Taremi moved Porto closer to their aims on the night but failed to fully force through a resilient Sporting outfit, holding onto a crucial 0-0 draw away from home.

• Benfica
• Sporting de Braga,
• UEFA

There is only one Portuguese team remaining in Europe after Benfica and Braga were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League this evening.

Benfica went down 3-2 to Arsenal in Greece after blowing a 2-1 lead. The Eagles lost 4-3 on aggregate. Braga were defeated 3-1 against Roma in Italy after a 2-0 loss at home in the first leg.