It may only be the second day of the New Year, but tomorrow's clash between Sporting and FC Porto at the Alvalade could well be one of the most significant matches of 2016 for Portuguese club football. 

The Dragons travel to the capital defending a one-point lead at the top of the Liga NOS table - a lead that had belonged to Sporting for the previous two months. PortuGOAL previews the sell-out match that could have a big bearing on deciding this season's championship. 

The final round of Liga matches in Portugal in 2015 proved highly significant as FC Porto rose to the top of the table for the first time in Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui's 18-month reign at the northern club. 

Previous leaders Sporting fell to a surprise 1-0 defeat at União da Madeira thanks to a 2nd-half Danilo Dias goal. Porto took advantage by beating Académica 3-1 at home to go one point clear at the top of the standings. The first match after the Christmas break? Sporting-Porto at the Alvalade. 

Benfica are now just five points off the table summit after two late goals helped the Eagles to a 3-1 victory over Rio Ave. 

Braga beat Sporting 4-3 after extra time to make the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup at the Quarry last night. The lead changed hands four times in a thrilling match, with Braga substitute Rui Fonte heading in the winner in the 111th minute. 

Elsewhere Porto also made the last eight after a narrow 1-0 win at Feirense thanks to an early Aboubakar goal. Braga and Porto are joined in Monday's draw by Rio Ave, Nacional, Arouca, Gil Vicente, Estoril and the winner of today's Boavista-Académica match. 

Mixed fortunes for Portugal’s Europa League trio

Portuguese champions Benfica will play the champions of Russia, Zenit Saint Petersburg in the round of 16 of the Champions League. It is a repeat of the 2011/12 clash between the two sides at the same stage of the competition, with Benfica coming out 4-3 aggregate winners on that occasion.

In the Europa League FC Porto were handed arguably the standout tie of the whole round, as they were paired with German giants Borussia Dortmund. Sporting also have German opposition, in the shape of Bayer Leverkusen, while Braga were drawn against Swiss outfit FC Sion.