Benfica responded from recent woes to claim a 2-0 victory over rivals Sporting in the Derby de Lisboa with victory over Sporting at Estádio da Luz.

Jorge Jesus, manager of the defending Liga Portuguesa champions who had already lost on three occasions in the early campaign, made one change to his line-up that fell to Vitória de Guimarães last week with Cesar Peixoto coming in for Nicolas Gaitán. Sporting manager, Paulo Sérgio made no changes to his starting eleven that played Olhanense to a scoreless draw.

Juggling the Benfica formation with Cesar Peixoto at left-back and Fábio Coentrão into a midfield role, the Águias tore forward and opened the scoring only thirteen minutes in. Coming via a poorly cleared corner, Óscar Cardozo answered the critics when he poached on the errant ball to send it into the back of the net.

Five minutes after the restart the Paraguayan international notched his second of the evening as he latched onto Javier Saviola provision and from the left side the area, sent the ball in off the mitts of Sporting ‘keeper Rui Patrício. Though the Sporting ‘keeper likely should have done better with the goal, he made up with a brilliant stop of Fábio Coentrão. Excluding a poor miss by Liédson, Sporting efforts were primarily of the low probability kind and without further incident the match concluded with Benfica claiming Derby de Lisboa with a 2-0 victory over Sporting.

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In a confident display, Sporting moved to third in the Liga Portuguesa table with a 3-1 defeat of Naval 1º de Maio in Figueira da Foz.

With the match never in doubt, the Leões narrowly missed taking the lead when Yannick Djaló’s header rasped off the right post midway of the half. However, three minutes shy of the break there was no stopping the Lisbon side as Liédson slickly back heeled Abel Ferreira provision from the right by-line for the 1-0 lead.

At the hour mark, Ulick Lupede was controversially adjudged for bringing down Liédson in the area and a penalty awarded. In the ensuing effort, Matías Fernández slid the ball to left corner to give Sporting the two-goal advantage. Ten minutes later, Yannick Djaló latched onto a errant ball of the left side of the area and promptly it into the opposite corner to give Sporting the 3-0 lead. With a quarter-hour remaining, Naval’s João Pedro delivered a fine effort past ‘keeper Rui Patrício but it served as nothing more that a consolation goal as Sporting laid claim to the 3-1 victory.

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Yannick Djaló netted three goals for Sporting, leading the Leões to a 5-0 devastation of Rio Ave at Estádio José Alvalade. With the result, Sporting holds down fourth in the Liga Portuguesa table, whilst Rio Ave is five points above the relegation zone at the eleventh spot.

At the sixth minute the hosts took at 1-0 lead as Yannick Djaló drove the ball in from just inside the area. After a brief lull, Sporting doubled its advantage five minutes shy of the break s Hélder Postiga’s cross from the right was headed in by Liédson.

Sporting continued to apply the pressure and three minutes shy of the hour, Yannick Djaló, from seven metres, turned a cross from the right channel to make it 3-0. Ten minutes later, Sporting was in full celebration as João Moutinho sent a powerful strike on the edge of the area to the back of the net to give the Lisbon side a four goal lead. With fifteen minutes remaining Yannick Djaló notched his third of the day as he acrobatically volleyed a cross from the left by-line in from ten metres. Sporting’s day was tempered with the red-carding of Marat Izmailov as he was set off for a two-footed challenge.

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Coming off their shocking destruction of Porto, Sporting overwhelmed crosstown foes Belenenses 4-0 at the Estádio do Restelo via four Liédson goals in the second-half. With the result Sporting hold down the fourth place, whilst Belenenses at in the bottom of the Liga Portuguesa table.

After a scoreless opening half the Leões opened the scoring at the fiftieth minute as Liédson, from six metres out, volleyed in a cross from the right wing. Sporting began to surge forward in an all out attack and eleven minutes later, a corner from the left banged around the box before Liédson slammed into the back of the net from close range. With nineteen minutes remaining, the striker received the ball in the area before driving in to make it 3-0. Finally, to complete Liédson’s remarkable evening he turned in a cross from the right by-line with a minute remaining in regulation to give Sporting the 4-0 victory.

Both sides return to play on Sunday as Belenenses travels to face Olhanense at Estádio José Arcanjo, whilst Sporting welcomes Vitória de Guimarães to the Estádio José Alvalade.

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Sporting, in the midst of a deeply troubling campaign, crushed arch rivals Porto hopes of defending their title with 3-0 victory at the Estádio José Alvalade. The results leaves Porto third in the Liga Portuguesa table, nine points off Benfica, whilst Sporting holds down the fourth spot.

In a highly one-sided match, Sporting took the lead to the delight of the fans six minutes after the opening whistle as a clearance of João Moutinho’s cross from the left into the box came to Yannick Djaló just inside the area, to which the young striker promptly fired in. The hosts continued the control the run of the play and before the break, a cross from the left into the Porto box was partially cleared but former Lokomotiv Moskva-man Marat Izmailov latched onto loose ball and sent powerful drive to the corner of the net.

At the break Jesualdo Ferreira called upon Fernando Belluschi for Raúl Meireles as Porto searched for a way into the match. However, only two minutes after the restart, the celebration went into top gear as Liédson surged down the right channel before drilling his effort off the far post, to which Miguel Veloso powerfully sent in. For the balance of the affair, Sporting kept Porto well contained and claimed the full three points with a 3-0 victory.

Sporting returns to play on Sunday as they visit Belenenses, whilst Porto welcomes Olhanense to Estádio do Dragão.

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Sporting’s troublesome campaign continued as they were held to a nil draw by Olhanense at Estádio José Arcanjo in in southern Portugal. The result sees Carlos Carvalhal’s side at fourth in the Liga Portuguesa table, perilously close to dropping out of a spot on the European stage as União de Leiria, Vitória de Guimarães, Nacional da Madeira and Marítimo all within striking distance, whilst Olhanense are at twelfth, three points above the relegation zone.

Played in foul weather conditions that left you questioning why the match was not abandoned, Sporting clearly was lacking in attacking inspiration as they rarely mustered a notable advance against their relegation threatened hosts. Without the services of former Lokomotiv Moskva man Marat Izmailov, Sporting’s best opportunities can via Miguel Veloso set-pieces. Veteran striker Djalmir was gifted a high probability chance to break the deadlock before the break when he was played through on the right channel but his effort was just off the inside corner.

After the break, the quality of the pitch deteriorated and chances were rare. Looking for the much needed attacking inspiration Carlos Carvalhal called upon Hélder Postiga and Bruno Pereirinha just past the hour. Despite Sporting’s intentions they could not break through and the match concluded as a nil draw.

Sporting returns to play next Thursday in Europa League play as they welcome Everton to Estádio José Alvalade before facing bitter foe Porto on Sunday, whilst Olhanense challenges Braga at The Quarry the day before.

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Sporting’s difficult campaign continued as they were held to a scoreless draw by Paços de Ferreira at Estádio da Mata Real. The result extends Sporting’s win-less run to three matches with them perilously holding down the fourth spot of the Liga Portuguesa table, whilst Paços de Ferreira hopes for a berth in the Europa League continue, as they are three points off at the eighth place.

Coming off the difficult loss to Académica de Coimbra at the Estádio José Alvalade, further complicated by a mid-week stumble in the Carling Cup, Sporting manager Carlos Carvalhal noted via the club web site that his side “will play to win this game”. Those words of encouragement aside, Sporting were plagued without the services of Miguel Veloso and former Lokomotiv Moskva man Marat Izmailov. The early going saw both sides thirsting to break the deadlock, marked by Liédson’s goal bound header miraculously pushed over the cross bar by Paços de Ferreira goalkeeper Júlio Coelho. After the break, Liédson looked to be in perfect position to score as he was played through but Júlio Coelho surged forward to push the ball to safety. To their credit, Sporting continued to apply pressure through the remaining time, narrowly missing the winning mark on a number of occasions but their stubborn host could not be broke and the match concluded as a scoreless draw, honours even.

Sporting returns to play on Tuesday as they visit Everton at the Goodison Park in Europa League action, whilst Paços de Ferreira visit Rio Ave on 21 February.

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In positively stunning fashion, Académica de Coimbra shocked Estádio José Alvalade with a 2-1 defeat of Sporting. The result leaves Sporting at fourth in the Liga Portuguesa table, a scant point above União de Leiria, whilst Académica gains important points away from relegation and moves to eleventh spot.

Though he was without former Lokomotiv Moskva man Marat Izmailov in his line-up, Carlos Carvalhal paired his new striker Sinama Pongolle with Liédson looking for impressive attacking effort. In an ominous start, at the third minute Orlando gave Académica the lead as his free kick, a common stop, somehow alluded Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patrício and bounced into the net. Six minutes shy of the half-hour João Pereira surged down the right flank before delivered a cross into the box that João Moutinho half-volleyed in from seven metres to level the match. If Leões supporters hopes were lifted by the strike, they were slowly dejected by their sides play against what most considered an easy win. After Académica goalkeeper Ricardo denied two high probability efforts the visitors grabbed on the hour as on quick assault João Ribeiro surged into box before firing the ball into the net from thirteen metres. Down by one, Sporting surged forward looking for the leveller and after seeing a penalty claim waived off, Amoreirinha cleared a last gasp goal bound effort off the line to seal Académica de Coimbra’s stunning victory.

Sporting returns to play next Friday as they visit Paços de Ferreira, whilst Académica welcomes Olhanense to Coimbra.

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Porto advanced to the semi-final of the Taça de Portugal with a 5-2 devastation of rivals Sporting in front of 36,000-plus at the Estádio do Dragão.

Jesualdo Ferreira gave his normal first-choice goalkeeper Helton the evening off with Beto taking his place. Os Dragões jumped out in front at the eighteenth minute as Falcao flicked a corner from the right on to the back post where Rolando ran through the ball, sending it in off this thigh. Three minutes later it appeared the great rivalry was in full swing as Carlos Carvalhal’s side squared the match when former Lokomotiv Moskva man Marat Izmailov sent a dipping drive from thirty-plus metres into the top right corner of the net. However, it was not long until travelling Sporting supporters were shocked with their sides collapse. Four minutes past the hour Falcao took it upon himself to restore the lead as the accepted the ball a few metres outside the area, turned to his left to create some space and fired a superb ball to the low right corner of the net to give Porto the 2-1 lead. Eight minutes later the former River-Plate man headed-in Rúben Micael’s cross from the left past Sporting ‘keeper Rui Patrício at the near post to double Porto’s margin.

At the break, Sporting summoned their new addition from Atlético Madrid, Florent Pongolle in the search for some much-needed attacking venom. However, two minutes after the re-start the match was effectively over as Silvestre Varela accepted a long provision at the edge of the box and after out-duelling Leandro Grimi to the left, fired a low shot in off the right post for the 4-1 lead. Porto continued to press and four minutes before the hour Mariano González surged in from the left channel before sending a long distance dipping effort in from twenty-five metres to give the hosts the comfortable 5-1 lead. In added-time, Liédson added a consolation goal for Sporting as he volleyed Leandro Grimi’s cross from the left in at the back post.  Despite the late marker, nothing could cull the celebration at Estádio do Dragão as Porto claimed the stunning 5-2 victory.

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SC Braga regained its lead in the Liga Portuguesa with a narrow 1-0 victory over Sporting at the Quarry. With the result, Domingos Paciência’s brilliant premier campaign in charge of Braga continues as his side edge back to first place, three points above Benfica, whilst Sporting languishes at fourth, only three points above Nacional.

Despite the score-line, Sporting controlled the run of play for much of the match. Flourishing runs by João Pereira and a series of fine touches by former Lokomotiv Moskva man Marat Izmailov put the Lisbon powerhouse to within a whisper of breaking the deadlock, yet with each opportunity the final touch was lacking. Though hardly deserving of the lead, Braga brought their fans to their feet a morsel past the half-hour via a highly opportunistic deflection. Surging down the left flank, Paulo César alluded Miguel Veloso and João Pereira before unleashing an effort that struck Tonel before nestling into the net past ‘keeper Rui Patrício. With the one goal disadvantage, the Leões charged back with both Carlos Saleiro and Liédson coming close to finding the equalizer. Challenges were becoming highly physical and on a number of occasions it appeared the referee João Ferreira was close to losing control of the affair.

After a cautious re-start, much of the play was a box to box with few chances. With twenty minutes, remaining Carlos Carvalhal summoned Sinama Pongolle into the line-up and the Le Havre-product, recent arrived from Atlético Madrid began to stir up trouble. With roughly ten minutes remaining Sporting ‘keeper Rui Patrício looked to have suffered a troubling injury but after a lengthy delay he managed to limp back between the posts and notch a number of stunning saves. However, after seven minutes of added time, the match concluded without further incident as Braga laid claim to the 1-0 victory.

Sporting returns to play next Saturday as they visit Académica de Coimbra, whilst Braga challenges Belenenses on Monday.

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