Refereeing controversies hit the headlines

The semi-final line-up of the Allianz Cup (Portuguese League Cup) was defined this weekend as the group phase of the competition reached its culmination.

Holders Sporting overcame the odds to top their section and qualify, while as expected, Vitória de Guimarães, Braga and FC Porto got the results they needed to top their respective groups and make the Final Four stage of the competition, to be held in Braga from 21-25 January. 

Benfica and Porto join Rio Ave, Paços de Ferreira and Famalicão as five Primeira Liga clubs to reach the 2019-20 Taça de Portugal quarter-finals. Segunda Liga’s Academico Viseu and Varzim are also into the last eight with the Campeonato de Portugal Prio represented by Canelas 2010.

The final Liga NOS round of 2019 saw the league table have a familiar feel to it as “Os Três Grandes” now inhabit the top three positions for the first time in the campaign.

Sporting’s emphatic win at Santa Clara saw them climb to 3rd place while Porto kept up the pressure in the title race by sweeping aside Tondela. It is defending champions Benfica though who end the year in top spot by four points after blitzing Famalicão 4-0 at Estádio da Luz. As has often been the case it was midfield maestro Pizzi who was central to their success and he is the PortuGOAL Figure of the Week.

• Benfica
• Primeira Liga,
• Liga NOS,
• Sporting,
• FC Porto,
• Famalicao

FC Porto have returned to winning ways after defeating Tondela 3-0 at the Estádio do Dragão, maintaining the current four-point gap behind league leaders Benfica.

Goals from Tiquinho Soares and Mateus Uribe kept the Blue and Whites in the hunt for top spot, having seen the Eagles kick the weekend off with a big victory over third-placed Famalicão at home to hit the 39-point-mark with a 4-0 win.

Defeat for Famalicão opened up an avenue for Sporting to re-enter the top three, doing so with another handsome 4-0 score-line, dealt to struggling Santa Clara. Here’s how the action at the top unfolded.