There appear to be few surprises left in the 2008/9 Portuguese league season. With Sporting drawing 0-0 away to Académica and Benfica losing 3-1 away to Nacional, a win at home for Porto next week against Nacional will secure their fourth successive league championship. Nacional may try to delay the inevitable, but all the European places look to be sewn up at the top of the table for FC Porto, Sporting, Benfica, Nacional and Sporting Braga, seven points clear of Leixões, who lost away to Estrela da Amadora.
It seems that the Liga de Honra (second tier) will go to the wire, with ex-Sporting hero Manuel Fernandes guiding União de Leiria to within a point of the promotion places after they demolished top of the table Olhanense 5-1 at home, the impressive Carlão scoring four of Leiria’s five goals. With Olhanense playing joint top team Santa Clara next weekend, it could give Leiria the chance to leapfrog both teams. Down at the bottom of the table, things are looking better for Boavista, who are a point clear of the drop zone occupied by Gondomar and Oliveirense.
Let us know your thoughts about the weekend’s events by leaving your comments here on the site.
Thanks for listening,
Steve and Phil
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