No let-up in titanic Championship Race

Benfica clocked up yet another win as they edge nearer their quest for a third successive championship. A header early in the second half by centre-back Jardel was enough for the Eagles to earn all three points on Friday night.

As such, Sporting travelled to Porto the next day under immense pressure not to fail, but came away from the Estádio do Dragão with a 3-1 victory to keep their title hopes alive.

The fight for the final Europa League place is also going to the wire, with two points separating Paços de Ferreira, Rio Ave and Estoril with two games remaining. PortuGOAL rounds up the weekend action and its implications at the top and bottom of the Liga NOS.

 

Benfica 1-0 Vitória de Guimarães

It was a familiar story for Benfica fans on Friday night. They watched their team put in an indifferent performance, but ended up smiling as they got the job done.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Jardel's clinical header from a pinpoint Gaitán delivery early in the second half proved the winner. Jardel almost went from hero to villain as a mistake let in Vitória winger Hurtado, but the Peruvian was denied by a goal-line clearance from André Almeida. Benfica substitute Raul Jiménez did his best to ease Benfica's nerves, but was denied by the crossbar.

Benfica have won 5 of their last 6 matches by a single goal difference, they required a stoppage time goal by Jonas at Boavista, late strikes by Jiménez at Académica and Rio Ave and twice needed to come from behind (against Académica and Vitória de Setúbal). That will not bother anyone at the club one bit if they can add two more victories to a remarkable run of 10 straight wins in the league. However streaky the wins may have been, that is championship form.

Many scoffed when in the wake of Jorge Jesus's switch to Sporting it was suggested that the club's structure and new coach Rui Vitória were strong enough to lead the club to a third straight title, but now just two victories (Marítimo away and Nacional at home) separate the Lisbon giants from glory.

 

Sporting refuse to throw in the towel

Facing a 5-point deficit Sporting had no option but to beat FC Porto in their own back yard, for the first time in the league since 2007, if they were to keep their championship aspirations alive. A fine performance saw the Lions run out 3-1 winners and set a new points record for the club.

A seventh consecutive victory means Jorge Jesus's men have now accumulated 80 points. Sporting remain second but can put huge pressure on Benfica ahead of the Eagles' trip to Madeira by going top if they beat Vitória de Setúbal on Saturday at Alvalade.

 

Europa League tussle

Arouca all but booked their place in next season's Europa League with the 3-0 home victory over Nacional. Two goals from Walter Gonzalez and a Mateus penalty gave Lito Vidigal's side three precious points.

Paços de Ferreira currently occupy the final EL qualification spot after beating Belenenses 2-0 in Lisbon, thanks to goals from Barnes and Pelé. Rio Ave drop to 7th after being held 1-1 at Tondela, despite playing for 70 minutes against ten men after Bruno Monteiro's early red card for the hosts. Wagner put Tondela ahead, Hélder Postiga equalised early in the second half, and Rio Ave were unable to put away late chances to grab all three points.

Estoril kept their hopes of getting back into Europe alive thanks to a 2-1 home win over Marítimo. Two second half goals in quick succession from Leo Bonatini (penalty) and Mendy saw the Lisbon coast side recover from an early Plessis goal for Marítimo. Estoril are two points behind Paços.

 

Relegation all but decided?

At the bottom it now looks very much like Académica and Tondela will be going down, as both clubs are 5 points from safety with two matches remaining. Tondela's excellent run of form seems to have come too late to save them.

União da Madeira's victory over Académcia virtually condemned the Coimbra side to second-tier football next season. A brace from Élio and a Gian Martins goal fired the islanders to a 3-1 victory a virtually guaranteed their top-flight status. In difficult circumstances coach Norton de Matos has worked a minor miracle at União.

 

Week 32 results

Arouca 3-0 Nacional

Benfica 1-0 Vitória de Guimarães

Belenenses 0-2 Paços de Ferreira

Braga 3-2 Vitória de Setúbal

Estoril 2-1 Marítimo

FC Porto 1-3 Sporting

Moreirense 1-1 Boavista

Tondela 1-1 Rio Ave

União da Madeira 3-1 Académica

by Tom Kundert