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Title holders FC Porto to take Liga Zon/Sagres with win at Paços de Ferreira?
Title contenders Benfica failed to get to the top of the Portuguese Liga Zon/Sagres when they drew 0-0 at home to Olhanense this Friday. Can league leaders FC Porto open a three point gap with only 6 matches to go?
After encountering defeat in the Portuguese League Cup semi-finals against Benfica last Tuesday, FC Porto will definitely try to return to winning ways. It starts with a league match against Paços de Ferreira on Sunday, March 25.Last season, FC Porto achieved near perfection winning four competitions: Portuguese SuperCup, Portuguese Liga, Portuguese Cup and UEFA Europa League.
This season, things are different. The Liga Zon/Sagres has become the only challenge for FC Porto. The Dragons don’t have any other title to look for after Tuesday's cup defeat. This tells they’ll put all their efforts in order to win the Liga and they’re in a good position to do so.
Benfica vs FC Porto: March 2 is the Eagles’ time to fly over the Dragons
What will happen at the Estadio da Luz on March 2 could leave a large print in the history of the Classico rivalry. The timing is perfect for the Eagles of Benfica to whip the Dragons of FC Porto.
Lisbon-based Benfica can only look back to the past with regret. It’s been over two decades now since FC Porto have the upper hand over the Eagles. Let’s put O Classico’s numerous scandals aside and see why Friday’s hosts are favourites to dethrone their bitter rivals.
1) The Estadio da Luz Factor
It’s amazing to know that Benfica have won the totality of their home matches this season. The commenced their perfect run with a 3-1 victory over Feirense and followed it up with 2-1 and 4-1 wins to Guimaraes and Academica de Coimbra.
Sporting Lisbon To Face Benfica Without Coach Paulo Sergio
Sporting Lisbon Coach Paulo Sergio will not be able to guide his team against Benfica tonight. The manager has to serve a ban following an incident which happened against Olhanense.
Paulo Sergio has been accused of having tensions with his key players. On February 12, when Sporting played away to Olhanense, it was reported that Paulio Sergio and midfielder Simon Vukcevic had a dispute over a substitution issue. But speaking to the BBC, the Sporting Lisbon coach denied such claims as he explained:“It was just that the player, which was a surprise to me, showed he wasn't able to do the second half. We don't argue, we don't have any discussion in the locker room.
“That's all it was and it surprised me that he wasn't okay to play the second half. But there was no problem with Vukcevic.”
Sporting Lisbon vs Benfica: Big Gap Against Porto Means We Can’t Fail – Jorge Jesus
The big gap that exists between FC Porto and Benfica at the top of the Portuguese Liga explains that the Eagles can’t fail in Monday’s Derby de Lisboa. Coach Jorge Jesus is aware of that...
“We cannot fail,” said Benfica’s coach according to Portuguese media website Abola.pt.“A derby is always a derby and the league’s table standings isn’t very important.
“However, the 12-points advantage that we have over Sporting give us some peace of mind. In my opinion, there’s no way Sporting can finish first or second [in the Portuguese Liga].
“The responsibility and pressure is more on us, Benfica, than on Sporting. The reason is that we have something at stake – the first position in the league.”
FC Porto vs Benfica – The Portuguese Liga Zon Sagres’ Title Decider
FC Porto and Benfica will lock horns on Sunday night in the Portuguese Liga Zon Sagres’ version of El Clasico. The campaign is only entering its 10th match-day, but the title could virtually be decided already.
FC Porto are leading the pace with 25 points in the table thanks to their undefeated record which includes 8 victories out of 9 matches. Benfica, meanwhile, are 7 points behind their bitter rivals ahead of Sunday night’s titanic clash. Porto mathematically have an opportunity to open a 10-point lead over Benfica – something which will all but end the Eagles’ flight, on a psychological point of view especially. Sunday’s visitors have already lost twice away from home this season but since going down 2-1 at Guimaraes back in September, they’ve started building a strong record with 5 wins on the trot. They’ll have to hit victory number 6 if they want to minimize the distance that separates them from Portugal’s Liga Zon Sagres’ leaders FC Porto.
Portuguese Liga Report: Week 8 (Oct 23-25)
Portuguese Liga ZON Sagres - Week 8 League Report. Familiar story at the Alvalade as Benfica move into second place. Porto march on.
Liga ZON Sagres - Week 8 Reports, by Tom KundertIt was a familiar story at the Alvalade. Sporting dominated possession without creating a great deal in the way of clear-cut chances. Only a last-gasp goal from full-back Abel prevented another embarrassing result for Paulo Sergio’s team against the side sitting rock bottom of the standings.
Benfica made it four consecutive wins in the Liga ZON Sagres with a narrow victory over Portimonense on Sunday night to put pressure on FC Porto who played on Monday evening.
If the Dragons felt any pressure they gave an emphatic answer as to their ability to deal with it. A thumping 5-1 win at home to Leiria maintained Porto’s 7-point lead at the top of the table.
In this report:
Academica de Coimbra vs Nacional Funchal - Sat 12:00PM
Paços de Ferreira vs Beira-Mar - Sat 1:00PM
Vitoria Setubal vs Vitoria Guimaraes - Sat 2:15PM
Sporting Braga vs SC Olhanense - Sat 4:15PM
Paços de Ferreira vs Beira-Mar - Sat 1:00PM
Vitoria Setubal vs Vitoria Guimaraes - Sat 2:15PM
Sporting Braga vs SC Olhanense - Sat 4:15PM
Maritimo Funchal vs Naval Primeiro de Maio - Sun 11:00AM
Sporting CP Lisbon vs Rio Ave - Sun 1:15PM
Portimonense vs Benfica - Sun 3:15PM
FC Porto vs Uniao Leiria - Mon 3:15PM
Sporting CP Lisbon vs Rio Ave - Sun 1:15PM
Portimonense vs Benfica - Sun 3:15PM
FC Porto vs Uniao Leiria - Mon 3:15PM
Portuguese Liga Preview: Week 8 (Oct 24-25)
Liga ZON Sagres - Week 8 Preview. The Liga ZON Sagres kicks back into action this weekend after taking a back seat for what seems an eternity because of the international break and the Portuguese Cup.
by Tom KundertAfter dropping their first points of the season in the 1-1 draw at Vitoria Guimaraes three weeks ago, leaders FC Porto will be striving to get back to winning ways as they welcome Uniao de Leiria to the Estadio do Dragao.
Benfica face a tricky trip to the Algarve to take on Portimonense in the knowledge that they cannot afford to let Porto increase their 7-point lead at the summit of the table, while Sporting and Braga will be gunning for home wins to get among the leading pack.
In this preview:
Academica de Coimbra vs Nacional Funchal - Sat 12:00PM
Paços de Ferreira vs Beira-Mar - Sat 1:00PM
Vitoria Setubal vs Vitoria Guimaraes - Sat 2:15PM
Sporting Braga vs SC Olhanense - Sat 4:15PM
Paços de Ferreira vs Beira-Mar - Sat 1:00PM
Vitoria Setubal vs Vitoria Guimaraes - Sat 2:15PM
Sporting Braga vs SC Olhanense - Sat 4:15PM
Maritimo Funchal vs Naval Primeiro de Maio - Sun 11:00AM
Sporting CP Lisbon vs Rio Ave - Sun 1:15PM
Portimonense vs Benfica - Sun 3:15PM
FC Porto vs Uniao Leiria - Mon 3:15PM
Sporting CP Lisbon vs Rio Ave - Sun 1:15PM
Portimonense vs Benfica - Sun 3:15PM
FC Porto vs Uniao Leiria - Mon 3:15PM
Benfica vs Sporting CP Lisbon Preview
Thirty-two-time Portuguese Liga winners Benfica lock horns with bitter city rivals Sporting Lisbon in the battle of the weekend in Portugal. Which team will edge the other?
Seating 13th in the 16-team table is one of the worst thing Benfica could have wished for. The Portuguese Liga defending champions just have 3 points from a possible 12 having lost thrice already to Academica de Coimbra, CD Nacional de Madeira, and Guimaraes respectively. They started the defense of their domestic title on a bad note as they lost 2-1 on match-day one at home. Thankfully for Benfica fans, the team bounced back at the Estadio da Luz with a 3-0 victory over Vitoria Setubal which actually proved to be their sole win in the Portuguese Liga so far.
However, a boost-lifting 2-0 triumph over Hapoel Tel Aviv in the UEFA Champions League could inspire Benfica ahead of this weekend’s titanic battle against Sporting Lisbon who are 5th in the table standings.