The Liga ZON Sagres may have been wrapped up last week by FC Porto, but there is still plenty of interest in the domestic scene in Portugal.
Two local derbies stand out in this week’s round. Maritimo and Nacional go head to head in Funchal, with both Madeira sides very much still in the mix for a European berth.
On Monday the focus shifts to northern Portugal, as Braga and Vitoria Guimaraes, a rivalry perhaps matched only by Benfica and FC Porto in terms of raw animosity, meet at the Estadio AXA.
With the bottom two teams, Portimonense and Naval, playing the top two, Porto and Benfica respectively, Vitoria Setubal could take a huge step towards guaranteeing survival in the top flight with a win at home to struggling Uniao de Leiria.
The Madeira derby is always a keenly contested occasion, and with just three points separating the teams and a European berth a real possibility for both of them, this Friday’s game will be no different.
Maritimo come into the match on a roll having won their last three matches, scoring 10 goals in the process. Striker Kleber seems to have finally put his pining for a move to the back of his mind and is showing what a class act he is, scoring goals and setting up others for his team-mates.
Nacional have struggled for consistency all season, but victory against their local rivals and they could well be sitting in a Europa League qualification spot.
The focus is very much on next season for Sporting after a 2010/11 to forget, but the Lions know that recuperating 3rd place in the standings will make next season’s preparations smoother, by avoiding the rigmarole of having to go through the early qualification rounds of the Europa League.
New president Godinho Lopes has appealed for a big turn-out from the fans as he takes his seat for his first game at Alvalade since winning the election.
But Sporting have won only one of their last twelve matches, while Academica have only lost one in seven since new coach Ulisses Morais took over. A tough one to call.
In what has boiled down to a three-way fight to avoid the relegation places (the bottom two positions in the table), Vitoria know that this could be a defining weekend. A victory for the hosts could prove absolutely crucial, with bottom two Portimonense and Naval hosting the top two Porto and Benfica respectively.
For Uniao de Leiria the season cannot end soon enough. A wretched run since the turn of the year has seen Pedro Caixinha’s team win just one out of twelve games, a run during which they have mustered a measly three goals.
This match-up between two mid-table sides has all the hallmarks of a less than interesting end-of-season affair. Pacos appear to have taken their eye of the ball in recent weeks, perhaps focusing on their upcoming Bwin Cup final against Benfica, while Rio Ave have long since put their relegation worries to bed.
Olhanense have been in freefall recently, picking up just one draw and one goal in their last five matches. Coach Dauto Faquira will be relieved his side enjoyed such a positive first half of the season, otherwise relegation would be a very real possibility.
As it stands, both Beira-Mar and Olhanense should have enough points on the board to stay up, although with the bottom clubs improving of late, a win here would be a welcome safeguard to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Porto may have won the league but coach Andre Villas-Boas has made it clear he wants no let-up from his team. Still unbeaten in the league, Porto come into the match on the back of two huge results: the 2-1 win at Benfica which clinched the championship followed by the 5-1 thrashing of Russian outfit Spartak Moscow to all but guarantee their spot in the Europa League semi-finals.
Portimonense have been battling bravely against relegation but any point picked up against the Dragons will be big surprise and a huge boon.
Benfica finally got back to their swashbuckling best in midweek to clock up a big win against PSV in the Europa League. However, with first place out of reach and second place guaranteed Jorge Jesus must be tempted to rest several players as he focuses on the three cup competitions the Eagles are still involved in.
Naval have been battling gamely to clamber out of the relegation zone with a string of positive results since Carlos Mozer took over in the New Year, but it may be too little too late. A point or three would be a huge boost to their hopes of a miraculous escape.
The weekend action finishes with the match of the round as fierce local rivals Braga and Vitoria Guimaraes go head to head at the Estadio AXA.
A typically tetchy spat has flared up regarding ticket allocation before the game, to further heighten the tension between two teams separated by just 20 kilometers. Braga are on a roll having gone nine matches unbeaten, but are in the middle of a finely poised Europa League quarter final against Ukrainian team Dynamo Kiev.
Vitoria Guimaraes will also feel they have bigger fish to fry – namely in the Portuguese Cup final against either Benfica of FC Porto. However, in a match that is always full of fireworks there is little chance either side will hold back as they attempt to earn the local bragging rights for the next several months.
On Monday the focus shifts to northern Portugal, as Braga and Vitoria Guimaraes, a rivalry perhaps matched only by Benfica and FC Porto in terms of raw animosity, meet at the Estadio AXA.
With the bottom two teams, Portimonense and Naval, playing the top two, Porto and Benfica respectively, Vitoria Setubal could take a huge step towards guaranteeing survival in the top flight with a win at home to struggling Uniao de Leiria.
The Madeira derby is always a keenly contested occasion, and with just three points separating the teams and a European berth a real possibility for both of them, this Friday’s game will be no different.
Maritimo come into the match on a roll having won their last three matches, scoring 10 goals in the process. Striker Kleber seems to have finally put his pining for a move to the back of his mind and is showing what a class act he is, scoring goals and setting up others for his team-mates.
Nacional have struggled for consistency all season, but victory against their local rivals and they could well be sitting in a Europa League qualification spot.
The focus is very much on next season for Sporting after a 2010/11 to forget, but the Lions know that recuperating 3rd place in the standings will make next season’s preparations smoother, by avoiding the rigmarole of having to go through the early qualification rounds of the Europa League.
New president Godinho Lopes has appealed for a big turn-out from the fans as he takes his seat for his first game at Alvalade since winning the election.
But Sporting have won only one of their last twelve matches, while Academica have only lost one in seven since new coach Ulisses Morais took over. A tough one to call.
In what has boiled down to a three-way fight to avoid the relegation places (the bottom two positions in the table), Vitoria know that this could be a defining weekend. A victory for the hosts could prove absolutely crucial, with bottom two Portimonense and Naval hosting the top two Porto and Benfica respectively.
For Uniao de Leiria the season cannot end soon enough. A wretched run since the turn of the year has seen Pedro Caixinha’s team win just one out of twelve games, a run during which they have mustered a measly three goals.
This match-up between two mid-table sides has all the hallmarks of a less than interesting end-of-season affair. Pacos appear to have taken their eye of the ball in recent weeks, perhaps focusing on their upcoming Bwin Cup final against Benfica, while Rio Ave have long since put their relegation worries to bed.
Olhanense have been in freefall recently, picking up just one draw and one goal in their last five matches. Coach Dauto Faquira will be relieved his side enjoyed such a positive first half of the season, otherwise relegation would be a very real possibility.
As it stands, both Beira-Mar and Olhanense should have enough points on the board to stay up, although with the bottom clubs improving of late, a win here would be a welcome safeguard to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Porto may have won the league but coach Andre Villas-Boas has made it clear he wants no let-up from his team. Still unbeaten in the league, Porto come into the match on the back of two huge results: the 2-1 win at Benfica which clinched the championship followed by the 5-1 thrashing of Russian outfit Spartak Moscow to all but guarantee their spot in the Europa League semi-finals.
Portimonense have been battling bravely against relegation but any point picked up against the Dragons will be big surprise and a huge boon.
Benfica finally got back to their swashbuckling best in midweek to clock up a big win against PSV in the Europa League. However, with first place out of reach and second place guaranteed Jorge Jesus must be tempted to rest several players as he focuses on the three cup competitions the Eagles are still involved in.
Naval have been battling gamely to clamber out of the relegation zone with a string of positive results since Carlos Mozer took over in the New Year, but it may be too little too late. A point or three would be a huge boost to their hopes of a miraculous escape.
The weekend action finishes with the match of the round as fierce local rivals Braga and Vitoria Guimaraes go head to head at the Estadio AXA.
A typically tetchy spat has flared up regarding ticket allocation before the game, to further heighten the tension between two teams separated by just 20 kilometers. Braga are on a roll having gone nine matches unbeaten, but are in the middle of a finely poised Europa League quarter final against Ukrainian team Dynamo Kiev.
Vitoria Guimaraes will also feel they have bigger fish to fry – namely in the Portuguese Cup final against either Benfica of FC Porto. However, in a match that is always full of fireworks there is little chance either side will hold back as they attempt to earn the local bragging rights for the next several months.
