Runaway leaders FC Porto will want to return to winning ways in the league after being held at Sporting last weekend. For the rest of the chasing pack it’s a case of continuing to play catch-up.
Two dropped points by Porto at the Alvalade last Saturday gave second-placed Benfica a chink of hope that perhaps they can still catch the Dragons.
The Eagles kick off the weekend action with a home clash against Olhanense and know a win is crucial to try and put pressure on Porto, who only take to the pitch on Monday at home to Vitoria Setubal.
Behind the leading duo, Vitoria Guimaraes, Sporting and Academica seek to keep up with the front-runners as they all take on teams occupying the lower reaches of the table.
Although Benfica remain in second place eight points behind FC Porto, the Eagles managed to cut the gap to the leaders last weekend.
Coach Jorge Jesus will look to take advantage of the fact his team are first in action this weekend. A win against Olhanense on Friday will not only be Benfica’s 8th victory in nine Liga games, but it will, at least temporarily, pull them to within five points of Porto, thus putting pressure on the Dragons who only play on Monday.
Olhanense have a poor record on the road, drawing three and losing three of their six games, and earning a point at the Estadio da Luz would be a considerable achievement.
A four-game winning run in the Liga for Guimaraes was brought to an abrupt halt last weekend with defeat at Maritimo. Paços, on the other hand, won for the first time in four games.
Although the hosts will start favorites, the fact that the two teams are local rivals, separated by little over 25 kilometers, makes this derby a difficult one to call.
Uniao de Leiria are quietly going about their business and have crept up into sixth place in the standings. In striker Carlao, Leiria have one of the most feared marksman in Portugal. The Brazilian has scored in seven of his team’s last ten matches and will be striving to help his side extend a four-match unbeaten run.
Braga have been inconsistent in the extreme this season, but come into the match on the back of two straight wins and Domingos Paciencia will be keen to clock up three points so as to get into the European qualification places.
Under the astute tutorship of Jorge Costa, Academica continue to surprise many and are currently sitting pretty in 5th place in the standings. Another home win and the Students will truly start to believe they have a realistic chance of qualifying for Europe this season.
Despite their lowly position Rio Ave are one of the form teams in Portugal. Three wins and a draw in their last four league matches have lifted Carlos Brito’s side out of the drop zone. Another win on Sunday will take Rio Ave above their opponents but it will be no easy task. The Aveiro side have lost only once away all season.
If ever a team looked doomed to relegation as early as the start of December, that team is Naval. The Figueira da Foz outfit have had a wretched season, amassing a paltry five points from their 12 games thus far.
Nacional have found it difficult to string together any sort of consistency and come into this game on the back of two defeats, but anything other than a home win will be a surprise.
Sporting will take great heart from their performance against FC Porto last weekend. Although they did not claim victory, for half of the game they more than matched the runaway league leaders, and the draw saw the Lions become only the second team to take points from Porto this season.
Sporting followed up that encouraging display with a midweek win in the Europa League against Lille, so will be confident of victory against struggling Portimonense.
The Algarve side were desperately unlucky last week. The floodlights failed when they were one-nil up in the second half against Leiria, and when the match recommenced the following day, two goals saw them come out of the match empty-handed. Another defeat will put Portimonense in big trouble at the foot of the table, but the clever money will be precisely on that outcome.
Portuguese sports journalists are quickly running out of adjectives to eulogize this Porto side. The runaway leaders have an incredible record of 20 victories, 3 draws and zero defeats in their 23 games in all competitions this season.
Another thoroughly clinical display in midweek away to Rapid Vienna in the Europa League in blizzard conditions further reinforces the idea that Andre Villas-Boas’ team can surpass any hurdle put in front of them. Colombian striker Falcao is in blistering form, having netted eleven goals in his last eight matches.
Vitoria have had an up-and-down season thus far, with goalscoring proving their biggest problem. Just eight goals scored in twelve games in league play tells its own story, and is another reason why this clash is viewed as a home banker.
The Eagles kick off the weekend action with a home clash against Olhanense and know a win is crucial to try and put pressure on Porto, who only take to the pitch on Monday at home to Vitoria Setubal.
Behind the leading duo, Vitoria Guimaraes, Sporting and Academica seek to keep up with the front-runners as they all take on teams occupying the lower reaches of the table.
Although Benfica remain in second place eight points behind FC Porto, the Eagles managed to cut the gap to the leaders last weekend.
Coach Jorge Jesus will look to take advantage of the fact his team are first in action this weekend. A win against Olhanense on Friday will not only be Benfica’s 8th victory in nine Liga games, but it will, at least temporarily, pull them to within five points of Porto, thus putting pressure on the Dragons who only play on Monday.
Olhanense have a poor record on the road, drawing three and losing three of their six games, and earning a point at the Estadio da Luz would be a considerable achievement.
A four-game winning run in the Liga for Guimaraes was brought to an abrupt halt last weekend with defeat at Maritimo. Paços, on the other hand, won for the first time in four games.
Although the hosts will start favorites, the fact that the two teams are local rivals, separated by little over 25 kilometers, makes this derby a difficult one to call.
Uniao de Leiria are quietly going about their business and have crept up into sixth place in the standings. In striker Carlao, Leiria have one of the most feared marksman in Portugal. The Brazilian has scored in seven of his team’s last ten matches and will be striving to help his side extend a four-match unbeaten run.
Braga have been inconsistent in the extreme this season, but come into the match on the back of two straight wins and Domingos Paciencia will be keen to clock up three points so as to get into the European qualification places.
Under the astute tutorship of Jorge Costa, Academica continue to surprise many and are currently sitting pretty in 5th place in the standings. Another home win and the Students will truly start to believe they have a realistic chance of qualifying for Europe this season.
Despite their lowly position Rio Ave are one of the form teams in Portugal. Three wins and a draw in their last four league matches have lifted Carlos Brito’s side out of the drop zone. Another win on Sunday will take Rio Ave above their opponents but it will be no easy task. The Aveiro side have lost only once away all season.
If ever a team looked doomed to relegation as early as the start of December, that team is Naval. The Figueira da Foz outfit have had a wretched season, amassing a paltry five points from their 12 games thus far.
Nacional have found it difficult to string together any sort of consistency and come into this game on the back of two defeats, but anything other than a home win will be a surprise.
Sporting will take great heart from their performance against FC Porto last weekend. Although they did not claim victory, for half of the game they more than matched the runaway league leaders, and the draw saw the Lions become only the second team to take points from Porto this season.
Sporting followed up that encouraging display with a midweek win in the Europa League against Lille, so will be confident of victory against struggling Portimonense.
The Algarve side were desperately unlucky last week. The floodlights failed when they were one-nil up in the second half against Leiria, and when the match recommenced the following day, two goals saw them come out of the match empty-handed. Another defeat will put Portimonense in big trouble at the foot of the table, but the clever money will be precisely on that outcome.
Portuguese sports journalists are quickly running out of adjectives to eulogize this Porto side. The runaway leaders have an incredible record of 20 victories, 3 draws and zero defeats in their 23 games in all competitions this season.
Another thoroughly clinical display in midweek away to Rapid Vienna in the Europa League in blizzard conditions further reinforces the idea that Andre Villas-Boas’ team can surpass any hurdle put in front of them. Colombian striker Falcao is in blistering form, having netted eleven goals in his last eight matches.
Vitoria have had an up-and-down season thus far, with goalscoring proving their biggest problem. Just eight goals scored in twelve games in league play tells its own story, and is another reason why this clash is viewed as a home banker.
