Two regional derbies catch the eye in Portugal this weekend, as fierce Minho rivals Guimaraes host Braga while in Madeira Nacional and Maritimo lock horns.
FC Porto and Benfica have seemingly straight-forward assignments as they play at home against struggling Naval and Portimonense respectively.
Sporting have a far tougher task as they travel to Coimbra to take on Jorge Costa’s Academica. The two teams are tied in the standings in joint fifth place and will be keen not to lose ground on the pack chasing Porto.
The most passionate match of the weekend, however, will be the local derby between Vitoria Guimaraes and Sporting Braga. There are usually fireworks when these two meet and there is no reason to believe Saturday night’s clash will be any different.
The Liga ZON Sagres weekend action kicks off on Friday night as the two clubs based on the picturesque Portuguese island of Madeira do battle. Nacional are having a far more successful season than their local rivals, and are sitting pretty in fourth place in the table after a good run of results of late.
But the form book counts for little on these occasions and Maritimo’s recent improvement (just one defeat in their last eight games in all competitions) will give them hope of getting one over their neighbors.
The Dom Afonso Henriques Stadium will be jam packed for this one. Not only is it a match-up between teams located just 20 kilometers from each other, but hosts Vitoria Guimaraes are enjoying a superb season and are currently occupying second place in the table following their spectacular comeback to beat Sporting in the last round of matches.
Braga have enjoyed the upper hand over the last few years, but chronic inconsistency has blighted their 2010/11 campaign. A leaky defense will also be a worry for Braga coach Domingos Paciencia, against a Guimaraes side that has scored ten goals in its last four games.
Sporting produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance in the last round, with a brilliant first-half display followed by a disastrous late collapse and ultimately defeat against Guimaraes. The Lions need to start putting together a string of results if people are to take Paulo Sergio’s continued affirmations that they are title contenders seriously.
In Helder Postiga and Jaime Valdes at least the Lisbon club seem to have hit upon a winning formula up front. But it is at the back where Sporting have looked vulnerable all season, and Academica’s potent duo Miguel Fidalgo and Sougou will test them to the limit.
Two sides ensconced in mid-table makes this encounter a difficult one to call. Beira-Mar come into the match on the back of a superb win at Braga last weekend, and have only lost twice all season, but Olhanense have surprised many with the quality of their football thus far. Home advantage may prove the key.
A battle of high-profile strikers makes this an attractive-looking game. Joao Tomas continues to confound his years. The 35-year-old banged in another brace to earn Rio Ave an unlikely draw at Setubal last weekend, and intimated after the game that he still felt he could be useful to the national team.
On the other end of the age spectrum, Paços have one of Portugal’s most promising up-and-coming strikers in Benfica loanee Nelson Oliveira, in addition to Irish starlet Padraig Amond. Both got on the scoresheet in a midweek League Cup win and will be gunning to add to their burgeoning reputations.
Uniao de Leiria’s Brazilian striker Carlao has been on fire in recent weeks, scoring in six of the team’s last seven matches. It has served for little however, as Leiria’s last five games have brought four defeats and a draw. Another loss to Vitoria Setubal will set the alarm bells ringing.
As for the Sadinos, Manuel Fernandes’ team have suddenly discovered their scoring touch, and they will fancy their chances of taking at least a point from the match.
A wounded Benfica will be desperate to put the 5-0 hiding they took from FC Porto last week behind them as they host rock-bottom Naval on Sunday.
Benfica coach Jorge Jesus has been severely criticized for the way he set up his team against the Dragons, and will be looking to guide his team to a convincing win to restore morale among his squad. The Eagles have been boosted by the news that long-term injury victim Oscar Cardozo is in line to make his return.
Naval have now gone nine games without the taste of victory and it will be a big surprise if that unwanted run does not reach double figures this weekend.
Anything other than a routine home win will be a huge surprise. FC Porto have been in fantastic form this season, and the five-nil mauling of great rivals Benfica last weekend will have further elevated already sky-high confidence levels.
Indeed, over-confidence appears the only aspect Porto boss Andre Villas Boas will have to be wary of. Portimonense have struggled away from home, losing four and drawing one of their five matches to date.
With Porto’s front three of Hulk, Falcao and Varela yet to draw a blank in 2010/11, Portimonense’s on-loan Porto goalkeeper Ventura is likely to be in for a busy night at the Estadio do Dragao.
Sporting have a far tougher task as they travel to Coimbra to take on Jorge Costa’s Academica. The two teams are tied in the standings in joint fifth place and will be keen not to lose ground on the pack chasing Porto.
The most passionate match of the weekend, however, will be the local derby between Vitoria Guimaraes and Sporting Braga. There are usually fireworks when these two meet and there is no reason to believe Saturday night’s clash will be any different.
The Liga ZON Sagres weekend action kicks off on Friday night as the two clubs based on the picturesque Portuguese island of Madeira do battle. Nacional are having a far more successful season than their local rivals, and are sitting pretty in fourth place in the table after a good run of results of late.
But the form book counts for little on these occasions and Maritimo’s recent improvement (just one defeat in their last eight games in all competitions) will give them hope of getting one over their neighbors.
The Dom Afonso Henriques Stadium will be jam packed for this one. Not only is it a match-up between teams located just 20 kilometers from each other, but hosts Vitoria Guimaraes are enjoying a superb season and are currently occupying second place in the table following their spectacular comeback to beat Sporting in the last round of matches.
Braga have enjoyed the upper hand over the last few years, but chronic inconsistency has blighted their 2010/11 campaign. A leaky defense will also be a worry for Braga coach Domingos Paciencia, against a Guimaraes side that has scored ten goals in its last four games.
Sporting produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance in the last round, with a brilliant first-half display followed by a disastrous late collapse and ultimately defeat against Guimaraes. The Lions need to start putting together a string of results if people are to take Paulo Sergio’s continued affirmations that they are title contenders seriously.
In Helder Postiga and Jaime Valdes at least the Lisbon club seem to have hit upon a winning formula up front. But it is at the back where Sporting have looked vulnerable all season, and Academica’s potent duo Miguel Fidalgo and Sougou will test them to the limit.
Two sides ensconced in mid-table makes this encounter a difficult one to call. Beira-Mar come into the match on the back of a superb win at Braga last weekend, and have only lost twice all season, but Olhanense have surprised many with the quality of their football thus far. Home advantage may prove the key.
A battle of high-profile strikers makes this an attractive-looking game. Joao Tomas continues to confound his years. The 35-year-old banged in another brace to earn Rio Ave an unlikely draw at Setubal last weekend, and intimated after the game that he still felt he could be useful to the national team.
On the other end of the age spectrum, Paços have one of Portugal’s most promising up-and-coming strikers in Benfica loanee Nelson Oliveira, in addition to Irish starlet Padraig Amond. Both got on the scoresheet in a midweek League Cup win and will be gunning to add to their burgeoning reputations.
Uniao de Leiria’s Brazilian striker Carlao has been on fire in recent weeks, scoring in six of the team’s last seven matches. It has served for little however, as Leiria’s last five games have brought four defeats and a draw. Another loss to Vitoria Setubal will set the alarm bells ringing.
As for the Sadinos, Manuel Fernandes’ team have suddenly discovered their scoring touch, and they will fancy their chances of taking at least a point from the match.
A wounded Benfica will be desperate to put the 5-0 hiding they took from FC Porto last week behind them as they host rock-bottom Naval on Sunday.
Benfica coach Jorge Jesus has been severely criticized for the way he set up his team against the Dragons, and will be looking to guide his team to a convincing win to restore morale among his squad. The Eagles have been boosted by the news that long-term injury victim Oscar Cardozo is in line to make his return.
Naval have now gone nine games without the taste of victory and it will be a big surprise if that unwanted run does not reach double figures this weekend.
Anything other than a routine home win will be a huge surprise. FC Porto have been in fantastic form this season, and the five-nil mauling of great rivals Benfica last weekend will have further elevated already sky-high confidence levels.
Indeed, over-confidence appears the only aspect Porto boss Andre Villas Boas will have to be wary of. Portimonense have struggled away from home, losing four and drawing one of their five matches to date.
With Porto’s front three of Hulk, Falcao and Varela yet to draw a blank in 2010/11, Portimonense’s on-loan Porto goalkeeper Ventura is likely to be in for a busy night at the Estadio do Dragao.
