Portuguese Football in English
Benfica 1-0 Chaves
Sport Lisboa e Benfica will consider themselves lucky to have escaped with a narrow 1-0 victory against GD Chaves in a contest that was littered with controversy. In a match where Benfica failed to convert three penalties before the 66th minute, it seemed like it was not meant to be the home side’s night.
Finally, a moment of brilliance from their highly-touted midfielder João Neves proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Primeira Liga football is back after the final international break of the season, with a clear run of eight games left from now until the end of the season. If you’ve lost your bearings somewhat, Sporting are currently top of the table with a point more than their Lisbon rivals Benfica, and a game in hand. Porto are seven points adrift of top spot but playing their best football of the season so far.
Braga sit in a somewhat disappointing 4th place, five points behind Porto, and 11 points off a Champions League place, with Vitória looking set to take the 5th and final European place.
At the bottom of the league things are a lot more open, with Chaves and Vizela currently at the foot of the table, but with the likes of Portimonense, Rio Ave, Estoril and Estrela in danger of getting sucked into an unwanted relegation battle. PortuGOAL previews the weekend action.
When Sporting CP signed Viktor Gyökeres from Coventry City in the summer of 2023, most thought he would improve the side and hoped he could be the missing part of the jigsaw. But few would have expected the Swede to produce the sort of football he has in his short time in Lisbon.
Sporting last won the Primeira Liga in 2020/21. That was their first title since their 18th in 2001/02. Given the successes of Porto and Benfica over the past 20 years, Sporting fans may have worried that they may have to wait nearly 20 years for another. But the signing of Gyökeres has put them within touching distance of their second title in four seasons.
Despite coming off a defeat and an exhausting recent schedule, and falling behind in the 3rd minute to a tremendous Makouta goal, Sporting turned around the result in style against Boavista at Alvalade tonight and stay firm at the top of the table.
Strikers Viktor Gyökeres and Paulinho helped themselves to five goals, the Swede at his unplayable best netting a hat-trick, and Nuno Santos also found the target as Sporting ran out 6-1 winners.
Casa Pia 0-1 Benfica
Benfica have kept the pressure on at the top of the Primeira Liga table after defeating Casa Pia 1-0 at the Rio Maior stadium, this Sunday.
Arthur Cabral was the difference-maker in a game that was frustratingly locked at 0-0 throughout large periods between the two Lisbon emblems.
Coming off the bench, the oft-maligned Brazilian forward unlocked the game with a curling effort coming into the box, tilting all three points Benfica’s way.
