Another lengthy Liga NOS break finally came to an end this weekend as Jornada 12 resumed the domestic league action in Portugal’s top flight. Benfica and Porto’s comfortable wins ensured it is as you were in 1st and 2nd place, with 3rd place Famalicao just starting to falter a little after a fast start, slipping to defeat at Portimonense.

Moreirense condemned Aves to yet another loss in a thrilling 3-2, but the standout result of the round saw Gil Vicente pull off quite an upset by beating Sporting 3-1. Veteran manager Vítor Oliveira masterminded his second “big 3” scalp of the season, and he is the PortuGOAL Figure of the Week.

• Benfica
• Primeira Liga,
• Sporting de Braga,
• Famalicao

Sporting have suffered a fresh setback in a thus far turbulent season after losing 3-1 to Gil Vicente away from home, last Sunday.

The Lions were up against it following goals from Bozhidar Kraev and Sandro Lima either side of Wendel’s first-half equaliser, with Zakaria Naidji sealing the visitors’ fate late on for Gil Vicente’s third.

Defeat for Federico Varandas’ men came after their cross-city rivals, Benfica, distanced themselves even further at the top of the table with a comfortable 4-0 win at home to Marítimo on Saturday night.

Famalicão’s second loss of the season, at the hands of Portimonense, also saw the newly-promoted side fall nine points behind the Eagles, meanwhile FC Porto kept the pressure on with their 2-0 victory over Paços de Ferreira at home, maintaining a two-point gap.

Elsewhere, there was a 2-0 win for Sporting de Braga in their Europa League-scented clash against Rio Ave at home, subsequently edging themselves closer to the qualification spots. Here’s the peak of this weekend’s action.

It was a positive matchday 5 for Portugal’s club’s in the Europa League. Sporting thrashed PSV 4-0 in Lisbon largely thanks to another masterful performance by captain Bruno Fernandes to guarantee their place in the knockout phase of the competition. Braga played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Quarry against Wolves to also progress to the round of 32, and like Sporting go into the final match defending top spot in their group.

Porto looked in trouble when losing 1-0 away at Young Boys, but a late double by Aboubakar turned it around and gave the Dragons a deserved victory to rekindle their qualification hopes. In Guimarães, it was déjà vu for Vitória as another positive display was not translated into a just result, Ivo Vieira’s team having to settle for a 1-1 draw. PortuGOAL rounds up all the action. 

Mourinho’s Spurs come back in style

Benfica looked to have rekindled hopes of progressing to the knockout phase of the Champions League when they led Leipzig 2-0 close to the 90-minute mark in Germany. But two late goals for the hosts saw a highly entertaining match end all square and consign Benfica to fighting for a Europa League place in their final Group G match on 10 December.

Elsewhere, José Mourinho made a spectacular return to Europe’s foremost club competition as his Tottenham Hotspur side came from 2-0 down to beat Pedro Martins’ Olympiakos 4-2, with Portugal centre-back Rúben Semedo on the scoresheet for the Greek side. PortuGOAL rounds up all the Champions League action from the Portuguese point of view.