Liga round-up: no change at the top
Nacional 0-2 Porto, Benfica 3-1 Beira-Mar
  The top two sides in the Liga ZON Sagres both earned three points on Friday night, though Porto and Benfica took decidedly different paths to victory. The Dragons were made to sweat at Nacional, eventually prevailing thanks to goals from Marc Janko and Alex Sandro; whilst Benfica cruised past Beira-Mar at the Luz, a game notable for an impressive display from young Nelson Oliveira. The forward set up Cardozo superbly for the Paraguayan's second of the night, as the title race rumbles on.
Nacional 0-2 Porto
 First up were Porto, who travelled to Funchal for a tricky-looking test against a Nacional side coming off a battling point at Olhanense. Vitor Pereira was without four starters (the injured Danilo, Fernando and Varela; and the suspended Hulk), whilst the home side were missing Claudemir and Andres Madrid, both of whom had been in excellent form.
It was Porto who showed what they were missing the most early on, as Nacional set a cracking pace from the off. Pecnik might have opened the scoring with barely five minutes gone after excellent work from Rondon and Mateus down the left wing, but the Slovenian's shot was turned behind by Helton – though how much the Porto goalkeeper knew about it is up for debate.
The home side won a succession of corners during the opening quarter of an hour, as their opponents sought to feel their way into the encounter. Nacional might have troubled Helton more but for some wayward crossing (Candeias was a particularly egregious offender in this department), but as the midway point of the half approached, Pedro Caixinha may perhaps have allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction.
 If indeed the Nacional coach did so, it would not have lasted long, for with 21 minutes gone, Porto were ahead. Moreno made a hash of his attempted clearance, which was charged down by the onrushing Alvaro. The ball ricocheted into the penalty box, and fell to an unmarked Janko, who needed no further invitation to notch up his fifth goal since joining from FC Twente in January.
Nacional would have been forgiven for letting their frustrations get the better of them at that point, but the home side rolled up their collective socks and marched down the other end, Candeias forcing Helton into another smart stop with a curling free kick; after Maicon had bundled over Rondon on the edge of the box. However, having taken the lead Porto were clearly buoyed, and suddenly the darting runs of Moutinho and searching balls from Lucho had more purpose to them. The former fired narrowly wide ten minutes before the interval (though not as narrowly as Nacional’s Mateus did moments later, with Helton rooted to the spot), whilst both Cristian Rodriguez and Defour might have done better – the latter after being found by a laser-guided through ball from James Rodriguez.
Janko almost doubled Porto’s lead seconds after the restart, but Vladan managed to deflect his shot behind to keep matters tight. It was the closest Porto would get to the goal for a while, as Nacional set about the task of finding an equaliser: slowly at first, but with increasing vigour once the hour mark had passed.
 At the centre of things was Mateus. The burly Angolan, who had scored two goals with three shots against Olhanense the previous weekend, managed time and again to get himself into the right positions, but time and again conspired to spurn the innumerable opportunities that followed, as Porto’s defence once again looked sluggish.
In fairness to Mateus, Helton was producing an excellent evening's work – but as full time approached, the forward’s fortunes seemed to shift from the realm of the profligate to that of the cursed. Given the way things were going in front of goal for Nacional, a Porto second grew all the more inevitable, and it duly arrived deep in stoppage time. Vladan, who like his counterpart also impressed for much of the game, made a rare error in spilling James’ low strike, and substitute Alex Sandro was there to turn home the rebound.
 The final score was scant reward for Nacional’s efforts, and Pedro Caixinha will undoubtedly be livid at his side’s wayward finishing. Porto, one imagines, will be happy to leave Choupana behind for another season.
Goals
[0-1] Janko 21’
[0-2] Alex Sandro 90’
Nacional: Vladan; Joao Aurelio, Danielson, Neto, Marcal; Moreno, Pecnik (Mihelic 50’), Diego Barcellos (Keita 80’); Candeias, Rondon, Mateus.
Porto: Helton; Maicon, Rolando, Otamendi (Mangala 77’), Alvaro Pereira; Defour, Lucho (Kleber 88’), Joao Moutinho; Cristian Rodriguez (Alex Sandro 77’), Janko, James.
Benfica 3-1 Beira-Mar
 Back on mainland Portugal, Benfica entertained a Beira-Mar side coming off their first victory for over three months. Jorge Jesus was without the injured Ezequiel Garay and the suspended Maxi Pereira, and thus despite Tuesday’s Clássico, the Benfica coach named a strong starting line-up, which included Nelson Oliveira up front alongside Cardozo: the Portuguese forward’s first start of the Liga campaign.
Ulisses Morais was without Benfica loanee Nuno Coelho, and made three changes from last weekend’s 1-0 win at home to Gil Vicente. Javier Balboa, who joined Beira-Mar from Benfica over the summer, was amongst the starters for the away side.
 Unsurprisingly, Benfica immediately seized the initiative (not to mention most of the metaphorical and actual territory), enjoying the lion’s share of the possession from the first whistle. They first tested Rego with nine minutes gone: Nelson Oliveira combining for a neat one-two with Gaitan before curling a shot towards goal, which the Beira-Mar number one did well to divert behind with a diving save.
Jaime headed wide from a corner soon after that, but chances were few and far between for Morais’ men throughout the opening 20 minutes. Benfica were somewhat circumspect going forward, with Gaitan going closest with a rare header from the edge of the box, but despite their considered approach, the Eagles were very much in control.
 They capitalised on this with 26 minutes gone. Aimar, influential throughout the first half, found the overlapping Witsel with a trademark through ball, and the Belgian wrapped his right foot around a superb cross, which was steered home by the unmarked Cardozo.
Beira-Mar continued to plug away, but were lacking in the final third, and Benfica doubled their lead just before the interval. Cardozo controlled a ball with his back to goal on the edge of the box, and with the Beira-Mar back line committed to a man, was able to slip through Gaitan. The Argentine, arriving late, scarcely broke stride before rifling a low shot beyond Rego.
 Three minutes after the restart, Benfica put the outcome beyond doubt in delightful fashion. Nelson Oliveira continued his fine form with a memorable assist: dragging a pair of markers with him before producing a deft backheel, which set Cardozo through on goal. The Paraguayan set himself, rounded Rego, and tapped home to overtake Braga’s Lima in the Melhor Marcador race.
With the game all but over as a contest, and a crucial month ahead for the home side, the pace dropped noticeably. Beira-Mar continued to seek openings, and were rewarded late on when Cassio found the net from a Balboa pull-back; but Benfica were home and hosed by that point, and ensure the gap at the top of the table remains as narrow as it was on Friday morning.
Goals
[1-0] Cardozo 26’
[2-0] Gaitan 44’
[3-0] Cardozo 48’
[1-3] Cassio 90'
Benfica: Artur; Witsel, Luisao, Jardel, Emerson; Javi Garcia, Gaitan, Pablo Aimar, Bruno Cesar (Nolito 64’); Cardozo, Nelson Oliveira (Rodrigo 75’).
Beira-Mar: Rui Rego; Nuno Lopes, Bura, Yohan Tavares, Andre Marques (Cassio 58'); Jaime (Nildo 58'), Dias, Artur (Abel Camara 73’); Balboa, Zhang, Joaozinho.
Ben Shave
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But apparently now that that's what's happened, they are thrilled with it.
If I was a Porto fan I would be lived at how the season as gone.
As for historical purposes, Porto can't sniff Benfica. They are by far the biggest and most recognizable team out of Portugal. They are also the Portuguese team that can rival other world giants in revenue.
Enough with the pissing matches.. all these Portugal results are amazing.. it is great for our country.. and for the sport.
As we see it both Benfica & Sporting are still in it.. another trophy would look great on the Portuguese wall.. but let's face facts.. Sporting has a better shot at the Europa than Benfica has at the CL.. but hey crazy crap happens.. and the dumbest winning manager ever at Benfica could fluke his way all the way to the final.
He has some very individually talented players.. that on their day if they get it all together could beat anyone in the world.
Anyways I have always stated that Nelson makes a better partner for Cardozo than Hot Rod.. as Rod & Goaldozers are shoot first guys.. Nelson is not.. he is a creator that can score.. the perfect partner.
My fear for him though is that they shove him forward at the Nat level.. on his own.. it is the kiss of death.. as was for Pauleta, Nuno Gomes, etc... Portugal does not have yet a striker that can play alone.. we wasted Pauleta & Gomes.. as both should've started together.. and wouldn't have been triple marked against the best.
Unfortunately no Portuguese Manager to date could figure that out.
Now I appreciate against a top team a 4-4-2 is not practical.. you start with one up top and in the second half once the game is secure and in the last 20 mins you move to the 4-4-2.. and pressurize the back 4 for a victory.
It is called a calculated risk...
Benfica is in the same mode as we were last year with a much better squad.. JJ still does not know who are the best players.. even though the statistics are very clear. Gaitan starts every match.. Nolito who leads all midfielders in stats and has sat half the year on the bench.. is always out.
Nolito's record as a starter is impressive.. of course I have heard a few comments about he is off form again.. which so happens to coincide with the splinters he has on his ass.
Nolito is the best player on the team.. only Cardozo is his equal in importance. JJ still thinks he is a bench player.. the biggest tool to ever manage Benfica.. this season should've been locked down a while ago.. but his mismanagement caused them to go into the Porto game as a must win.. it was not the deserving loss to Porto (albeit through an offside goal which is no excuse) we should've been in a position where a loss wouldn't have mattered.. but "Making Everything Look Difficult" TM just couln't help himself... and his poor management and squad selection once again has hurt a very strong Benfica.
With VP a poor manager beating him.. it is pretty sad.. so with Paciencia & AVB both looking for work.. I hope that Braga or Porto win it.. as it will hopefully mean JJ gets the axe finally.. and we can actually hire a good Manager for the first time in almost two decades.
Some will say that JJ has been the most successful manager at Benfica for a long time.. and sadly that is true.. we have had a long list of shit managers.. but that is no reason to appreciate how some of the best Benfica teams ever have been wasted so horribly.
Porto & Braga have done so much more with less squads.
This years Benfica with a few changes.. namely morons that JJ overplays.. should've coasted as easily as last years Porto.
But that is never the case with JJ..
Admittedly, Porto have more international titles, but to include titles like Supercups, Intercontinental Cups, European Winner's Cups, Etc is, IMO, misleading. The UEFA Supercup has become somewhat of an exhibition game, and the InterContinental Cup I dont even think they play anymore!
Bottom line: SLB has more league titles and more Taca's and thats what counts in Portugal. Porto has more Supercups, and more recent success.
BTW, the achievements of last years Porto, with an undefeated domestic run, 3 domestic trophies, and a UEFA Europa League title, was an incredible feat. As much as I wanted to beat the hated Braga in the Europa semi's, and get another shot at Porto in the final, and as much as it hurt to lose out on away goals to Braga like that, it was preferable to being beaten again by Porto in the final in Dublin. That would have been insult on top of injury.
SO, back to the matter at hand. Portista's talk about SLB fans and their inferiority complex, then resort to creative mathematics and the inclusion of petty domestic honors in a pathetic (and needless) attempt to make their club seem more relevant. Nice try, but im not buying bro... .
I have alot of respect for this website, and for 90% of the people who post regularly, but I really think these pointless debates and senseless name calling and insults really do this site alot of injustice. It would be great if everyone spent more time talking about what the article is about and less time talking about the "Who's who" of who won what trophies.
Now, I will follow my own advice. Benfica looked great against Beira Mar, especially the first goal. Unfortunately I didn't get to watch the FCP game, so I can't speak to that. However, FCP and SLB are too strong this year, and I don't see either of them dropping too many points before the end of the season.
As interesting as it would be to see Braga win the title, I have a feeling they will end up coming in third at the end of the season. Not that they don't have quality, I think they do amazing things with the resources they have, but FCP and SLB tend to be more consistent towards the end of the season, and I think it will be a battle between those two for first and second place.
Then again, I could be wrong. It would be huge for Braga if they could pull of a title win this season. It would definitely alter the balance of power in Portuguese Football.
Forca
Some (not all) of Benfica fans have this inferiority complex. It helps them to make excuses as to why their beloved Benficaca is still as relevant as it once was.
Corruption to help win championships and european glory?? Please! Benfica was so succesful in the 60's and 70's b/c they were supported by the dictatorship who used the team as part of its propaganda machine. More recently, have you heard of Vale Azevedo??? That clown of a Benfica president that stole money, was beyond corrupt and spent years in prison.
Stop living in the past get with reality. It must suck to not have even lived the best years of your team! I guess Benica fans must really understand the meaning of "saudade" lol!
FC Porto is an internationally lauded team, with a national record of seven international titles: the 1986–87 European Cup, the 1987 Intercontinental Cup, the 1987 UEFA Super Cup (Portugal's only UEFA Super Cup trophy), thus becoming one of a few teams in the world to hold in possession three major international titles simultaneously and the only one in Portugal, the 2002–03 UEFA Cup (Portugal's only UEFA Cup trophy), the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League (Portugal's only UEFA Champions League trophy), the 2004 Intercontinental Cup (Portugal's only Intercontinental Cup trophies) and the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League (Portugal's only UEFA Europa League trophy). In addition, FC Porto was runners-up in the 1983–84 European Cup Winners' Cup, in the 2003 UEFA Super Cup, in the 2004 UEFA Super Cup and in the 2011 UEFA Super Cup. Statistics do not lie and officialy these stats demonstrate how Porto is the most successfull portugues football team in history.
Benfica comfortably won 3-1, but they were far from the best. It was a terrible Beira-Mar side, not a vintage Benfica performance, which made the game so comfortable.
Again we saw the positives and negatives of young Nelson Oliveira's game. He has incredible pace on and off the ball, and he uses this with devastating effect when he makes diagonal runs behind the opposition defense. He also seems quite comfortable with the ball at his feet. He showed his technical ability with an excellent shot early in the game and his lovely back heel assist.
The problem with Nelson, and this will definitely change with more playing time, is that his decision making is not quite up to par with what is needed at the highest level. He took a little too much time on the ball once or twice when he should have passed to an open teammate.
Hopefully with more playing time, Nelson Oliveira can develop further into a top class striker. He has loads and loads of potential, but he's still quite raw. While he's definitely far superior, in terms of talent, than Helder Postiga and Hugo Almeida, I wouldn't start him on the seleccao just yet. I am confident that in another year or 2, we'll be looking at themost talented and well rounded Portuguese striker in a long, long time!