• Boavista
• Benfica
• Moreirense
• Sporting,
• FC Porto,
• Sporting de Braga,
• Pacos de Ferreira
• Santa Clara

Sporting have increased their lead at the top of the Primeira Liga table after combining a 2-0 victory at home to Paços de Ferreira, this Monday, with FC Porto’s draw at home to Boavista over the weekend.

The Dragons, two goals down by half-time, produced a second-half fightback against rivals Boavista but, with a missed penalty and a VAR decision in the mix, Sérgio Conceição’s men were unable to stretch beyond a 2-2 draw and leave a couple of points at Sporting’s mercy.

The Lisbon outfit took advantage with a goal in each half of the game from João Mário and midfield pivot João Palhinha, taking their lead over Porto into double figures for the league.

Benfica were no better than their northern rivals in their travels to Moreira de Conégos, despite taking the lead early versus Moreirense before a 40th minute penalty from Yan Matheus left them braced for a 1-1 stalemate.

The draw enabled Braga to go two points clear of fourth-placed Benfica after a narrow 1-0 victory away to Santa Clara, leaving them just one point behind second place.

The Liga NOS microscope is usually more focused on matters up in the higher echelons of the league table especially with this season’s arguably wider title race, but 2020/21 looks to have an extremely tight battle to avoid the drop on the cards also. This time around, as well as the obvious pandemic-related restrictions, sees the introduction of a fresh element to complicate the relegation argument: the addition of a play-off to determine a potential third team exiting the Primeira Liga, whereby 16th place in the division will face 3rd place in Segunda Liga (similar to a system implemented in Germany’s Bundesliga among others) to settle the final place in next season’s competition.

Here I take a look at the varying candidates who will be looking to avoid such eventualities this coming May.

The Liga NOS table reflected the outcomes of Jornada 18 somewhat as the packed Portuguese season continued this week. Those in the bottom half all largely came a cropper in struggling performances and results, the outlook being particularly bleak for Farense, Famalicao and Boavista.

Rio Ave got their first win under a second spell of stewardship for manager Miguel Cardoso, while Nacional leapt into the top half to join the likes of Santa Clara and Moreirense in victory.

At the top though it was a potentially pivotal week in the title race. Braga and Porto both lost ground by virtue of the pair playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw, setting the stage for Sporting to extend their advantage in first place. The Lions’ unlikely goalscoring saviour, and PortuGOAL Figure of the Week, was defender Sebastián Coates, who capped a difficult personal week with a sensational late double against Gil Vicente.

• Benfica
• Sporting,
• FC Porto,
• Sporting de Braga,
• Sebastian Coates
• Nicolas Gaitan

Sporting have opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Primeira Liga table after a late Sebastián Coates brace saw the Lions take Gil Vicente down with a 2-1 victory.

On a stormy night in Barcelos, Gil Vicente threatened to deal Sporting their first defeat of the season after holding onto a 1-0 lead right up until the 83rd minute.

Two late goals from skipper Coates defined a different end to the tale in the 18th fixture of the season, however, turning the table on Gil Vicente and securing a 2-1 victory. The win places Sporting eight points clear of FC Porto after the Dragons blew a 2-0 lead away to Sporting de Braga, drawing 2-2 in the dying embers of the game on Sunday night. 

Rather than relying on late drama, Benfica got their business done early with two punctual goals against FC Famalicão the following night, registering a bounce-back result and sneaking back within touching distance of second and third-placed Porto and Braga.