With the title race in full swing, Matchday 21 in the Liga NOS gave us the chance to see some of the latest acquisitions in action up and down the country. Few will have been as excited as the Belenenses fans after their 11th hour capture of Colombian international Abel Aguilar, contacted via WhatsApp to join the club and making his debut days later versus second placed Benfica.
Across the city of Lisbon, Sporting hosted Rio Ave in the final game of the week and welcomed some new faces themselves. The ex-Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates, on loan from Sunderland, made his eagerly awaited first appearance for the club, whereas Hernán Barcos came straight in to the first team to sit on the substitutes’ bench.
By now, FC Porto’s winter signings are very much yesterday’s news but the new identity being built by José Peseiro, whose side have scored six goals in their last two games, will have offered enough intrigue as to how far this current crop can still go in the title race, starting with their home fixture against Arouca on Sunday night.
Porto with one foot in Jamor
The Liga NOS transfer window review
Match day 20 of the Liga NOS brought with it much to play for at both ends of the table. Leaders Sporting were looking to keep their two point advantage at the top of the pile as they took on a struggling Académica side at the Alvalade. Meanwhile, Porto travelled to mid-table Estoril on Saturday evening before Benfica rounded off Sunday’s action with a trip to Moreirense.
After joining FC Porto last summer with a healthy reputation and a substantial transfer fee to match, few would have expected Giannelli Imbula’s time in Portugal to have unfolded quite as it has done so far.