Weekend review and preview of this week’s European action
After four rounds of the new season the Portuguese championship table has a familiar look to it, with Sporting, Braga, Benfica and FC Porto occupying the top four positions in the standings.
All four teams earned relatively comfortable victories over the weekend and now turn their attention to Europe.
Rafa’s mixed debut
Benfica kicked off the action with a visit to Arouca on Friday night, coming away with a 2-1 victory. The narrow margin of victory does not reflect the match, with the Eagles dominating from start to finish.
Without the injured Jonas, Mitroglou and Jiménez, coach Rui Vitória played Gonçalo Guedes and debutant Rafa Silva up front, and the mobile front two ripped apart the home defence time and again, especially in the first half, when only poor finishing prevented Benfica from going into the break with a big lead. They had to be content with a 1-0 advantage, thanks to a fortuitous goal by Nélson Semedo.
Another defender, Lisandro Lopez doubled the lead after the break, but Arouca’s Paraguayan forward Walter González gave the home team hope with a terrific header to make it 2-1. That was the way it finished.
Rafa Silva, the most expensive transfer between Portuguese clubs in history, had a mixed debut. His speed, alertness and skill were a constant source of danger for Arouca, he created a handful of chances, not least for himself, and was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty. On the downside, he will be disappointed not to have found the net after spurning several opportunities, and he limped off the pitch in the second half with a thigh strain. Portuguese sports paper Record today speculates he will out of action for the next three weeks.
Injury worries ahead of Besiktas
Rafa’s unavailability adds to Benfica’s lack of options up front, with Jonas and Jiménez still out injured, while Mitroglou will have a late fitness test. Should the Greek striker not be fit to play, either André Carrillo or 17-year-old prodigy José Gomes could be brought in to partner Gonçalo Guedes up front, who put in another lively display at Arouca.
Beating Besiktas will be no easy task. The Turkish champions have started the defence of their title with two wins and a draw, scoring 9 goals in the process. Striker Cenk Tosun will have to be watched carefully, having scored 4 goals in three matches.
Sporting face daunting task
Sporting begin their Champions League campaign with a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday to face Real Madrid who can again count on Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The former Sporting superstar made a goalscoring return to action on Saturday after the injury he endured in the Euro 2016 final, with Portugal centre-back Pepe also finding the net in a 5-2 win over Osasuna.
Coming away from the Spanish capital with any points would be a big bonus for Sporting in a tough Champions League group that also includes Borussia Dortmund and Legia Warsaw.
But Jorge Jesus’s side travel to Spain in buoyant mood having clocked up a fourth successive win on Saturday to lead the Liga NOS table by two points. The match was a showcase for Sporting’s new faces with Bas Dost, Lazar Markovic and André Souza all making their debuts for the Lisbon giants (the latter two off the bench), while Elias also saw playing time after his return from Brazil, and summer signings Alan Ruiz and Joel Campbell started.
However, it was Gelson Martins who stole the show, the young winger continuing his superb form this season with a neat finish from a lovely diagonal William Carvalho pass into the box. Without having to hit top gear, especially after Moreirense midfielder Neto was sent off in the 34th minute, Sporting made their superiority count in the second half through goals by Joel Campbell (the most impressive of the new signings to date) and Bas Dost, for a 3-0 victory.
The victory stretches Sporting’s winning run in league play to 13 consecutive matches including last season, and curiously in every one of those games the Lions have been winning at half time, as well as at full time.
New-look Porto click
FC Porto were expected to have the most difficult task of the Big Three this weekend as they welcomed Vitória Guimarães to the Estádio do Dragão. But Nuno Espírito Santo’s team overpowered their northern neighbours with an energetic and incisive display.
Belgian striker Laurent Depoitre partnered André Silva up front in a 4-4-2 formation and Vitória had no answer to Porto’s incessant attacking and constant danger from set pieces. Marcano put the Dragons in front from a corner in the first half, and goals in the second half from Óliver Torres and João Aurélio (own goal) resulted in a 3-0 victory.
The reacquisition of Óliver already looks like a crucial signing for Porto. The 21-year-old Spaniard was superb in his first spell at the Dragão in 2014/15, and it was as if he had never been away as his clever passing and quick thinking caused constant problems for the visitors.
Porto now have the perfect chance to build on the promising performance as they host FC Copenhagen on Wednesday in their Champions League opener. The Dragons will be looking to stamp their authority on a negotiable group that also includes Leicester City and Clube Brugge.
Braga hit form
Braga will also go into their European fixture this week on a high. The Arsenalistas beat Boavista 3-0 at the Quarry thanks to goals from Hassan, Pedro Santos (penalty) and Wilson Eduardo, and will be confident of clocking up another victory on Thursday as they host Gent in the Europa League.
By Tom Kundert
Related: Title prospects for Portugal’s Big Three
