As another international break ends, PortuGOAL has a new weekly feature courtesy of Albert and Barney from the Long Ball Futebol podcast - a regular preview of the upcoming weekend action. Today, we look ahead to Jornada 26 of the 2022/23 Primeira Liga as domestic football in Portugal embarks on an uninterrupted stretch of nine games until the end of the season.

Whilst Benfica have all but wrapped up the title, the fight for the rest of the European places continues. Porto and Braga are battling it out for the runners-up spot and the second automatic Champions League place, but Sporting are seemingly on the up and will be ready to pounce if one or both northern clubs slip up.

There’s a 3-horse race for the last Europa Conference League spot (5th). Vitória have a 2-point lead over Arouca and Casa Pia, but with 9 games to go that is a slender advantage.

At the bottom of the league Paços de Ferreira continue their attempt at what would be one of the greatest ever escapes from relegation. The Beavers had zero wins and just 3 points after the first 15 rounds of the season, but are now on the cusp of at least securing a relegation playoff spot. 

Primeira Liga football pauses for the international break after what could prove a pivotal 25th round of action. League leaders Benfica tightened their already vice-like grip on the title race, thrashing Vitória Guimarães to take advantage of championship rivals Braga and Porto sharing the spoils with one another.

Rio Ave and Famalicão continued some fine recent form to improve their top half credentials, with Vizela and Chaves also heading in the right direction after triumphs this weekend.

Another team on the up is Casa Pia, whose dream year in the top flight after promotion gets better and better. Their new signing Felippe Cardoso struck twice as his team defeated Marítimo to stay in the top five race, the Brazilian forward is our PortuGOAL Figure of the Week.

Braga and Porto drew 0-0 at the Quarry in a game containing few chances.

Mehdi Taremi missed a presentable opportunity in the 12th minute before Braga began to boss the game.

Porto were so far off the pace that Sérgio Conceição made two tactical substitutions in the 39th minute.

The game came to life in the closing stages, Evanilson dragging his shot wide with Matheus to beat.

There was more drama to come deep into added time, Pizzi choosing to pass instead of shoot after finding himself 1 on 1 with Diogo Costa.

The Dragons are 10 points behind Benfica with nine matches remaining, the Warriors two points back.

A ninth successive victory in the Primeira Liga saw Benfica take another step towards winning the Portuguese title for the first time in four years.

A clinical first-half showing gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead at the break thanks to a goal from Gonçalo Ramos and a João Mário brace.

With the game won, Benfica slowed down in the second half but three more goals were added with the common theme that most Portuguese of surnames “Silva”. A Dani Silva own goal and an António Silva header elevated Benfica’s score to five goals, with André Silva grabbing a consolation in between.