Unheard of. Benfica thrashed Porto 4-1 at the Estádio do Dragão tonight. It was only the second time Benfica have scored four goals at the home of their fiercest rivals – the previous occasion was in 1943!

The Eagles completely outplayed the hosts from start to finish. As well as the four goals, Benfica hit the post twice and had several other opportunities to pile on the misery for Porto’s supporters.  

Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis was the hero of the night for the Lisbon outfit netting a hat-trick. Samu Aghehowa pulled one back for Porto, but Benfica captain Nicolás Otamendi put the cherry on the cake for the visitors to make it 4-1 – the same scoreline as when the two teams met at the Estádio da Luz earlier this season.

Benfica are in rude health, clocking up a 9th successive victory in the Primeira Liga as they continue firm in their fight for the title with Lisbon rivals Sporting. For Porto, it’s back to the drawing board with new president André Villas-Boas under increasing pressure. 

AVS 0-3 Estoril

Despite their brilliant form in the calendar year of 2025 (only two defeats to Sporting and Porto), Scottish coach Ian Cathro has insisted he wants more from his Estoril team, preaching that fighting for a European place should become the norm.

And the Canarinhos put in another sparkling performance tonight, making light of the driving rain for most of the 90 minutes by playing some lovely football and completely outclassing AVS.

It was a night to remember for young Portuguese striker André Lacximicant, who bagged his first hat-trick in senior football. 

This is the most exciting match of the season. FC Porto vs Benfica, the eternal rivals in Portugal. For Porto it is do or die: win and you are able to keep on dreaming; lose and start preparing for next season.

Benfica are more comfortable, but having to play against Sporting, Vitória and Braga until the end of the season, it might be tricky if they lose this Sunday. José Ricardo Leite previews this weekend’s Clássico. 

Sporting beat Rio Ave 2-0 at Alvalade tonight in the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-final. First-half goals by Geny Catamo and Viktor Gyökeres (penalty) put the hosts firmly in control of the tie.

The Lisbon club will be wondering how they did not score more in the second half after Gyökeres hit the post, Catamo had the ball in the net only to see it ruled out for a narrow offside, and chance after chance went begging.

Rio Ave are still alive in the competition but will need a huge improvement in the second leg to have a chance of turning around the result. The return match will be played in Paços de Ferreira on 22 April given that Rio Ave’s home stadium in Vila do Conde was badly damaged in the recent Storm Martinho and cannot be used again this season.