Portuguese Football in English
After a busy week of European competition, and on the cusp of a two-week international break, this weekend’s Liga NOS fixtures were a chance for some clubs to tighten their hold on top spot, while others were looking to try and get clear of pending trouble at the other end of the table.
PortuGOAL rounds up the highlights from Round Seven.
As in the first round of Europa League matches, it was a mixed bag for Portugal’s three representatives, who returned one win, one draw and one defeat.
Predictably Paulo Sousa’s Italian league leaders Fiorentina proved far too strong for Belenenses, running out 4-0 winners at the sun-drenched Restelo.
Braga made it two wins out of two with a single-goal victory over Groningen at the Quarry, while an improved Sporting drew against Besiktas in Istanbul.
Benfica won a competitive match in Spain for only the second time in their long and proud history of European football by coming from behind to pull off a sensational 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Vicente Calderón.
Atletico took a deserved lead midway through the first half and threatened to overrun the Portuguese champions as they constantly cut through the centre of Benfica's defence.
But the match changed after Nico Gaitán's fine equaliser shorty before half time. The home team continued to do most of the attacking, but when the majestic Gaitán instigated a brilliant counter-attack from the edge of Benfica's own area, the move swept all the way to the other side of the pitch where Gonçalo Guedes netted what proved to be the winner.
Three tough games await Portugal’s trio of Europa League representatives on Thursday.
Belenenses welcome Italian side Fiorentina, whose Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa has led them to the top of Serie A. In another mouth-watering clash, Sporting travel to Turkish capital Istanbul to take on Ricardo Quaresma’s high-flying Besiktas.
Braga, clicking into gear nicely under new coach Paulo Fonseca, look to build on their excellent start to the competition as they host Dutch side Groningen. PortuGOAL runs the rule over Portuguese teams’ adversaries.
PortuGOAL reporter Stephen Gillett was at the Estádio do Dragão last night to see Porto overcome José Mourinho's Chelsea.
Here he gives his player ratings on what turned out to be an excellent night for the Dragons.
