Benfica and Sporting won their weekend matches to leave it as you were at the top of the Liga NOS table, but the manner in which both clubs risked losing points suggests this most thrilling of title races could yet have a twist or two before the champions are known.
On Saturday night Sporting went top despite a disjointed performance thanks to a 1-0 victory at Moreirense. Benfica reclaimed first place last night as the Eagles came from behind – and survived a late scare – to beat Vitória Setúbal 2-1 at the Estádio da Luz.
Elsewhere qualification for the Europa League and the scrap to avoid the drop involves an intense battle. PortuGOAL rounds up the Primeira Liga action from Week 30.
Slimani strikes for off-colour Sporting
Sporting started the match well enough at Moreirense, putting pressure on the home side and creating chances in the opening 15 minutes of the match, culminating in a goal as Slimani tapped in a Schelotto cross, although replays showed the Algerian marksman benefited from an offside position.
On the stroke of half time Sporting had the ball in the net again, but this time Téo Gutierrez’s strike was ruled out for offside. TV replays suggested the linesman got it wrong again. The Lions were not able to put their fluid passing game together against a competitive Moreirense side, making for a nervous second 45 minutes for the visiting side. Nevertheless, Rui Patrício was rarely troubled and Sporting ended the match top of the pile.
JJ to Benfica’s rescue
No, the headline above does not refer to former coach Jorge Jesus, but rather striker Jonas and centre-back Jardel. Both players scored within five minutes of each other midway through the first half to turn around the result after Vitória de Setúbal had taken a shock lead in front of a huge crowd in Lisbon inside 14 seconds through André Claro.
Benfica dominated the first half and should have put the game to bed, but some wayward finishing combined with excellent goalkeeping from Ricardo kept the score at 2-1 at the interval.
The second half was a more even affair, but it seemed Benfica would be picking up the three points until stoppage time. In the 92nd minute Pizzi inexplicably played an awful back pass straight into the path of Vitória forward Arnold, but a poor first touch and the alert Benfica goalkeeper Ederson rushing out of his box prevented a dramatic equaliser.
The reigning Portuguese champions have now won 21, drawn 1 and lost just 1 of their last 23 Liga encounters.
Porto bounce back
On the day Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa was re-elected as FC Porto president, continuing his 34-year reign at the helm of the club, the Dragons put recent poor results behind them with a thumping 4-0 home victory over Nacional.
A wonderful curling 25-yard shot by Silvestre Varela in just the 2nd minute got the ball rolling, and the lead was soon doubled through Mexican midfielder Hector Herrera.
Two second-half goals from Danilo and Aboubakar completed the scoring, and only some excellent goalkeeping from Nacional stopper Rui Silva prevented a wider margin of victory.
Europa League tussle
With FC Porto and Braga contesting the Portuguese Cup final at Jamor, sixth place equates to Europa League qualification this season, and it now appears a four-way fight to finish 5th and 6th at the end of the campaign. Arouca and Rio Ave are the current occupants, and the two clubs have a 4-point buffer on their rivals after playing out a goalless draw on Saturday.
But Paços de Ferreira and Estoril are still in with a shout of playing European football next season. Paços moved into 7th following a thrilling 4-3 win at União da Madeira, teenage sensation Diogo Jota scoring the winner at the death. The 19-year-old, who has been sold to Atletico Madrid, has now notched 13 goals in all competitions this season.
Also on 42 points are Estoril, who edged past Boavista thanks to a late Paulo Vinicius own goal.
Relegation dogfight
Despite their defeats, União and Boavista remain outside the relegation zone on 26 points, two more than Académica. The Students earned what could be a vital point in their battle to beat the drop, thanks to a 1-1 draw at Belenenses.
Tondela’s recent good run came to an end with a 3-0 defeat at Braga, Hassan, Stojiljkovic and Crislan netting for the Arsenalistas.
Week 30 results
Arouca 0-0 Rio Ave
Belenenses 1-1 Académica
Benfica 2-1 Vitória Setúbal
Braga 3-0 Tondela
Estoril 1-0 Boavista
FC Porto 4-0 Nacional
Marítimo 3-0 Vitória de Guimarães
Moreirense 0-1 Sporting
União da Madeira 3-4 Paços de Ferreira
By Tom Kundert
