Week 18 of Liga NOS was largely business as usual as the top four remained as they were after all registered victories. While Benfica, Braga and Sporting continue to do their best to keep pressure in the title race, at the moment it appears Porto are unstoppable in their quest to retain the championship.

They were very comfortable in running out 4-1 winners against Chaves on Friday night, and PortuGOAL Figure of the Week Tiquinho Soares grabbed the headlines with a predatory hat-trick to keep Sérgio Conceição’s side rolling.

• Benfica
• Primeira Liga,
• Liga NOS,
• Sporting,
• FC Porto,
• Sporting de Braga,

FC Porto maintained their impressive form with a 4-1 win over Chaves, last Friday, to make it 19 wins from their last 20 games in all competitions, as the Primeira Liga entered the second half of the season.

Sporting de Braga led the way on the same night with a 3-0 victory versus Nacional, moments before Benfica scrambled to pinch a 1-0 win away at Vitória de Guimarães, courtesy of Haris Seferovic's winner.

Goals from Tiquinho Soares supplemented a big result for Sérgio Conceição and his table-topping Porto side against last-placed Chaves, prior to Sporting joining the gang at the top with a 2-1 win at home to Moreirense. PortuGOAL brings you the latest from the Primeira Liga title race. 

Liga NOS officially reached the halfway point this weekend in a round of matches that was ultimately a little short on goals and excitement. Sporting and Porto weren’t able to raise pulses too high in drawing their ‘Clássico’ 0-0, a result that Benfica were able to capitalise on by beating Santa Clara 2-0.

In truth there has hardly been a plethora of candidates on the pitch for this edition of Figure of the Week, so in that sense it’s fitting that the accolade goes to a coach, new Chaves boss Tiago Fernandes registered his first league victory in charge of the team with a vital win over in-form Tondela.

• Primeira Liga,
• Sporting,
• FC Porto,

Sporting 0-0 FC Porto

Sporting and FC Porto failed to go beyond a 0-0 draw in their first meeting of the 2018/19 season, as the Lions welcomed the league leaders for a rare afternoon kick-off at the Alvalade.

A very tight first-half with minimal chances set the tone for a disciplined outing from the two rivals, with the likes of Moussa Marega and Nemanja Gudelj coming close to shaking things up in the second half.

The deadlock wouldn't be broken, however, bringing to an end the Dragon's run of 18 consecutive victories and keeping Sporting eight points away from top spot at the halfway mark of the Primeira Liga season.