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| Friday, 06 April 2012 22:49 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portuguese football fans braced for decisive weekend in championship raceBraga host FC Porto ahead of Lisbon derby   The vagaries of the fixture list combined with results thus far in 2011/12 have combined to set up a mouth-watering weekend of Liga action that could prove decisive in determining who will be lifting the Portuguese championship in little over a month’s time.
Third-placed Braga host leaders FC Porto in the knowledge that victory will see the Arsenalistas leapfrog the Dragons. Leonardo Jardim’s men could even jump to top spot with four games remaining, should Benfica fail to beat Sporting in Monday’s Lisbon derby at the Alvalade. With just two points separating the top three, this is what each title contender has ahead of them between now and the end of the season:
Looking at the calendar, leaders and reigning champions Porto would appear to have the toughest run-in, having to travel to Braga and the always difficult trip to Funchal, to face high-flying Maritimo, as well as hosting Sporting.
Benfica’s toughest task is surely on Monday against Sporting. The Lisbon derby is always a keenly fought affair, and Sporting would dearly love to dent the title aspirations of their city rivals. Moreover, the Lions will be buoyed by reaching the Europa League semi-finals. If Jorge Jesus extends his recent good record against Sporting, the Eagles next have a tricky home game against Maritimo, followed by three eminently winnable encounters. As for Braga, if they hit the summit after this weekend’s results, it may be difficult for the other two to catch them. Victory over Porto will give the Arsenalistas a record of 14 wins in their last 15 Liga games and their biggest obstacle until the end of the season would appear to be precisely the final game of the season, away at Sporting. One factor that could work in Braga’s favour in relation to that game is that Sporting are likely to be more preoccupied with the Portuguese Cup final played one week later. Hence, although out of the championship race, Sporting are likely to have a big say in who wins the Liga ZON Sagres this year, playing all three candidates. Whichever way you look at it, there is no hiding from the fact that the matches this Saturday and Monday are absolutely pivotal, starting with the game tomorrow evening at the AXA Stadium. Leonardo Jardim, Braga coach:“The weekend’s matches may be important, but it is not a decisive round for the championship. Afterwards there will be four games remaining and it’s harder and harder to win games. The championship will go right to the end.”
Vitor Pereira, FC Porto coach:“These are three fundamental points at a decisive moment in the season, when the final position of the teams will be decided. I expect my team to be at its best and to win the three points. At this stage we can’t be thinking about what results other teams are getting.”
by Tom Kundert |
Benfica needs to go the "WC/Pia" and nab all three points. At this point in the season, I don't care how they do it, just as long we get out of there with all three points.
I'll be rooting hard for a draw in the Tripeiro vs Aldeia match.
Sporting could really be a spoiler, but I'm not so sure they won't come back to earth. That is not an easy schedule.
Also, Maritimo could really make itself present. They may not win those at he's, but they will take a lot out of the opponents.
By the way, people could go to espn3.com in order to see some of the Portuguese matches.
It upsets me though that even with the great season the Liga has been having there is no coverage in the States. I watch Fox Soccer Report on FSC and they choose to cover the Belgium, Dutch, Aussie, etc leagues over the Liga. Whats going on here? Is this happening across the pond also?
Hopefully Benfica can grab a huge win on Monday. It won't be easy, but it definitely won't be impossible. Let's just hope that Patricio isn't on fire!