With one third of the championship now played, Portugal's traditional Big Three are starting to pull clear at the top of the Primeira Liga table.
On Friday night Benfica beat Académica 3-0, the match highlight being a stupendous goal on his home debut by 18-year-old Renato Sanches (pictured). On Saturday Porto came from behind to beat Paços de Ferreira 2-1 at the Estádio do Dragão. Sporting therefore kicked off their match in Madeira needing to beat Marítimo o stay top, and duly did so thanks to a beautifully worked goal from Adrien.
Other highlights included Vitória Setúbal's 3-0 win at Belenenses, Arouca beating Boavista 3-2 and a rare win for União da Madeira.
Benfica 3-0 Académica
As one young Benfica star, Gonçalo Guedes, was given a rare rest, starting on the bench, another one stepped into the breach in style. Midfielder Renato Sanches kept his place in the team after two impressive displays in the away games at Astana and Braga. And the teenager had a home debut to remember, capping a fine performance with a magnificent thirty-yard strike that arrowed into the top corner of the net in the closing stages of the game.
Truth be told the Eagles had not had to be at their best to get the better of an inoffensive Académica side. Their task was made even easier by the visitors conceding two careless penalties, both of which Jonas dispatched with aplomb to cement his place at the top of the Liga goal-scoring charts with an impressive 10 goals in 11 games.
FC Porto 2-1 Paços de Ferreira
Porto came from a goal down to win a match for the first time under Julen Lopetegui. In 13 previous matches when they had fallen behind with the Spaniard in the dugout, the Dragons had not managed to turn the result around. Little surprise, therefore, that several boos rang around the stadium in the immediate aftermath of Bruno Ribeiro's early goal for the visitors.
But Porto were level before the half-hour mark thanks to a clever pass by Brahimi and a neat finish by Mexican forward Jesus Corona. The hosts proceeded to create and spurn chance after chance, Aboubakar especially wasteful, and Porto needed a penalty to find their way to goal again, Layún making no mistake from the spot after Herrera had been brought down in the box.
Marítimo 0-1 Sporting
Sporting clocked up their 4th successive 1-0 win in the Liga, and their 7th triumph in 8 Liga matches, a run during which they have conceded just one goal. One of the reasons for the Lions' superb defensive record is the form of goalkeeper Rui Patrício, and the Portugal No1 earned his wages again this match with two outstanding saves.
In a game of few chances Sporting won all three points thanks to a wonderful team goal. João Pereira, Bryan Ruiz and João Mário combined in slick fashion down the right flank, with Mário beating his marker and laying the ball on for Adrien to finish clinically from the top of the box.
Sporting remain unbeaten in the Liga, having accumulated 32 points from a possible 36.
Round-up
After several seasons in the doldrums Vitória Setúbal are enjoying a fine 2015/16, thanks in no small measure to the superb form of South Korean centre-forward Suk. The big striker notched another brace on Saturday and also provided an assist for André Horta (brother of Portugal U21 star Ricardo) to score the other in a 3-0 win at Belenenses. Vitória move up to 5th in the standings as they prepare for a home match against Benfica next week.
União de Madeira beat rock-bottom Tondela thanks to a goal in each half from Danilo and Cadiz, while Arouca beat another struggling side, Boavista, 3-2. Maurides, Ivo Rodrigues and Nuno Coelho scored for the home side, with Tangarrinha and Nuno Henrique netting for Boavista.
Braga were held to a goalless draw at Moreirense, while Estoril and Nacional also ended all square. Salvador Agra gave the islanders the lead, but a late equaliser from Bonatini earned a deserved point for the Canarinhos.
Results
Benfica 3-0 Académica
Belenenses 0-3 Vitória Setúbal
FC Porto 2-1 Paços de Ferreira
Marítimo 0-1 Sporting
Arouca 3-2 Boavista
Estoril 1-1 Nacional
União da Madeira 2-0 Tondela
Moreirense 0-0 Braga
Monday game: Vitória Guimarães vs. Rio Ave
by Tom Kundert
