Liga NOS Jornada 20 could yet prove a pivotal moment in the title race after Porto reduced the gap at the top to 4 points after beating rivals Benfica in an electric Saturday night Clássico at Estádio do Dragão. The round also saw more woe for the bottom four teams, and the maintenance of good recent form for Rio Ave, Boavista and Santa Clara.

It’s not often a five goal thriller of a Clássico could have competition for the share of the headlines but Vitória Guimarães certainly rivalled the top two for column inches with a sensational victory at a much-changed Famalicão. Os Vimaranenses were relentless as they helped themselves to seven goals without reply, led from the front with a terrific display from striker Bruno Duarte, the PortuGOAL Figure of the Week.

• Sporting,
• Sporting de Braga,
• Vitória de Guimarães,
• Famalicao
• Marcus Edwards
• Jeremy Mathieu

The Primeira Liga wasn’t short of entertainment in ‘Clássico’ week, with Vitória de Guimarães doing a great job of attracting the spotlight with a 7-0 demolition job over Europa League hopefuls Famalicão, this Saturday.

A collection of braces from ex-Premier League interns Marcus Edwards and João Carlos Teixeira helped Vitória stack up the goals against ten-man Famalicão, who, as a result of their comprehensive defeat, saw the victors narrows the gap between the two sides, 5th and 8th, to just four points.

Vitória’s rivals, Sporting de Braga, were also in action on Saturday afternoon, dropping their first set of points under Rúben Amorim after leading Gil Vicente by 2-0 at half time, prior to Bruno Viana’s red card making way for a share of the spoils at 2-2.

Braga’s draw opened up the door for Sporting to move back into third place with a victory against Portimonense at home, achieved on Sunday evening with a 2-1 score-line. Here’s the pick of the action in an ever-changing battle for European spots in the Primeira Liga.

• Benfica
• Primeira Liga,
• FC Porto,
• Classico,
• Sérgio Oliveira
• Sergio Conceicao
• Bruno Lage
• Carlos Vinicius
• Alex Telles

FC Porto 3-2 Benfica

FC Porto have cut the gap at the top of the Primeira Liga table back down to four points after a 3-2 win over Benfica at the Estádio do Dragão kept their title hopes alive, this Saturday.

The two bitter rivals went toe-to-toe in a frenetic, goal-packed first half, initiated by Sérgio Oliveira’s opener and followed up by Carlos Vinícius’ equaliser in the opening 20 minutes.

A controversial penalty, converted by Alex Telles, and a Rúben Dias own goal strengthened Porto’s odds at half-time, prior to Vinícius’ second following the interval, but the Dragons were able to hold onto their slim lead and complete the double over Benfica in head-to-head ‘Clássicos’.

• Benfica
• Classico,
• Pizzi
• Danilo Pereira
• Rafa Silva
• Sergio Conceicao
• Bruno Lage
• Tiquinho Soares

Despite being just 20 games into the Primeira Liga’s season, Saturday’s Clássico between FC Porto and Benfica, with no further clashes between the big three until the tail end of the season, could have a lasting effects on the race for the 2019/20 title.

Seven points currently separate the two Portuguese giants, with hosts Porto hoping to cut that gap back down to four at the Estádio do Dragão and propel themselves back into the tussle for glory. 

However, in the red corner, Benfica will be out to extinguish such hope and accentuate their tag as hot favourites for the title. In a game that you can follow live on Premier Sports 2 here, via subscription, at 8:30pm this Saturday, here’s how the two bitter rivals weigh up against each other.