Portuguese Football in English
Arouca 0-3 Benfica
Benfica have kept up with the pace at the top of the Primeira Liga table with a 3-0 victory away to Arouca, this Saturday.
The Eagles secured a comfortable advantage with goals either side of the interval through Rafa Silva and Orkun Kökçü, despite shaky moments against an alert Arouca outfit.
Super sub Petar Musa added the finishing touches to a 3-0 victory late on for Roger Schmidt’s side, taking the Lisbon giants back to being within a point of table-topping Sporting.
Porto’s Primeira Liga ambitions suffered a blow at Estádio do Bessa Século XXI after a 1-1 draw against Boavista.
Toni Martínez put the Dragons ahead in the 23rd minute after a clever pass from Evanilson, but their lead lasted just five minutes.
Boavista’s equaliser came from a free kick that caught Porto’s defence asleep, Bruno Lourenço left completely unmarked to head the ball past Diogo Costa.
Sérgio Conceição’s side had all the ball in the closing stages which included 11 minutes of added time, but they couldn’t take advantage which leaves them five points behind Primeira Liga leaders Sporting Clube de Portugal.
Leaders Sporting did not tremble as they defended top spot in the Primeira Liga against in-form Estoril Praia this evening, running out 5-1 winners in front of a buoyant crowd in the Portuguese capital.
Viktor Gyökeres paved the way with two brilliant assists for Marcus Edwards in the first half.
Further goals after the break from Nuno Santos, Pedro Gonçalves and Francisco Trincão put a rampant Sporting five up, before Cassiano scored a late consolation for the visitors.
Portuguese champions Benfica have completed the signing of Santos striker Marcos Leonardo.
The highly rated 20-year-old marksman has signed a 5-year contract. He cost the Lisbon club €18 million and his release clause has been set at a whopping €150 million.
After a short Christmas break we enter a new year, and with things still as tight as they are at both ends of the table it will be another important weekend of football.
With Sporting, Benfica and Braga facing in-form teams and Porto having to negotiate a local derby, it promises to be another fascinating round of Primeira Liga matches.
PortuGOAL previews all the action.
