Portuguese Football in English
Portugal’s trio of Champions League participants have had a largely disappointing European campaign so far, but this week all three teams have the chance to get right back in the running for qualification to the knockout phase.
Benfica and FC Porto travel to Ukraine and Belgium respectively to take on opponents who have one and zero points respectively, while Sporting have a crunch match at Alvalade against an injury-weakened Borussia Dortmund.
Everyone knows just how beneficial a loan can be for a young footballer’s career. The three biggest teams in Portugal tend to have a long list of talents playing in other colours season after season.
João Mário just got a millionaire transfer, while Adrien and William are key in the Sporting eleven, all of whom are great examples of players who had loan experiences that helped them grow, mentally and technically.
PortuGOAL takes a look at this year’s loanees from the Big Three, how they’re doing and what chances they have of coming back to the club they’re legally contracted to.
This last factor will be evaluated from 1-10, with a 10 rating meaning the player in question is extremely likely to play for his parent club again, and 1 extremely unlikely.
The upshot after an exciting weekend of Liga NOS action is that reigning champions Benfica are three points clear at the top of the table, two ahead of title rivals Sporting and FC Porto.
On Saturday evening Sporting seemed to be cruising to a comfortable win at Vitória Guimarães, leading 3-0 with little over 15 minutes remaining, only for the home side to produce a stunning comeback crowned by an 89th-minute equaliser. Porto played immediately afterwards and swept aside Nacional 4-0 in Madeira, with Diogo Jota scoring a first-half hat-trick.
On Sunday Benfica also won 4-0, at home to Feirense, as the Primeira Liga now takes a 3-week break as international matches and the Portuguese Cup take centre stage.
All the leading clubs in Portugal won their matches this weekend, meaning there was no change at the top of the Liga NOS.
Leaders Benfica won 2-0 in Chaves to equal their own record (dating back to 1973) for the most consecutive away wins in the Portuguese top flight – 15. Late goals from Mitroglou and Pizzi gave the Eagles the points.
Porto won their local derby against Boavista at the Dragão, with André Silva scoring a brace in a 3-1 victory, while Braga came from behind to beat Vitória Setúbal 2-1 at the Quarry thanks to the evergreen Alan, the 37-year-old Brazilian scoring one and setting up the other goal.
The most impressive performance came from Sporting, whose 4-2 victory over Estoril did not reflect the home team’s superiority as the Lions returned to winnings ways.
Benfica 3-1 Braga
Portuguese champions Benfica went to the top of the table after Round 5 of the Liga NOS thanks to a 3-1 win over Braga in an exhilarating contest at the Estádio da Luz on Monday night.
The Eagles benefited from being the only team in the top four to win at the weekend, as Sporting lost 3-1 at Rio Ave and Porto were held to a goalless draw at Tondela.
