When the Liga NOS resumes next month after its short Christmas break, Portugal’s Big Three will be in for a strenuous sprint to the finish. Porto, Sporting and Benfica are within just three points of each other, raising the prospect of the league having as tight a race as we have seen since the dramatic 2006/2007 season. That year, all three clubs finished within two points of each other, and it is not difficult to see another captivating conclusion this season.
Just about at the halfway point, PortuGOAL assesses each of the three contenders thus far, and look at how each of them may win the league this May.
Week 15 in Liga NOS saw reasons to cheer for the underdogs as Estoril finally ended a poor run with a win over Aves and Moreirense upset Vitória Guimarães on Monday. Elsewhere the top 4 remains unchanged as Porto, Benfica, Braga and Sporting all racked up fairly routine wins.
Matchday 15 had plenty of clubs and fans alike wishing for a merry and tranquil Christmas, as the Primeira Liga headed into its final week of the calendar year.
It was largely business as usual in Liga NOS in Week 14 as “The Big Three” all recorded pretty routine wins meaning it is as you were at the top of the table. Porto remain the leaders after thumping Vitoria Setubal 5-0, while Benfica and Sporting both recorded 3-1 victories against Estoril and Boavista respectively.
