Portuguese Liga Sagres Preview: Round 10

Full Fixture List (all times are local):

Friday 6th November

Belenenses - P. Ferreira 20:15

Saturday 7th November

V. Setubal - Olhanense16:00

V. Guimaraes - Sp. Braga 21:15 

Sunday (8th November)

Leixoes - Nacional 16:00

U. Leiria-Academica 16:00

Maritimo - FC Porto18:00

Rio Ave – Sporting 20:15 

Monday 9th November

Benfica - Naval 20:15

This weekend sees the 10th round of the Portuguese Liga Sagres, with Braga currently leading the pack following their 2-0 win against Lisbon giants Benfica last weekend. The Arsenalistas currently sit top of the league on 25 points, with Benfica three points behind in second and FC Porto sitting in third on 20 points. Sporting Lisbon, who usually complete the traditional ‘big three’ clubs in Portugal, have experienced a turbulent start to the season and sit in sixth with 13 points to their name.  

Key Fixtures:

V.Guimaraes - Braga 

Surprise league leaders Braga face another tricky fixture this weekend, traveling to local rivals Guimaraes in what promises to be a heated derby. Braga have had a sizzling start to the season, with eight wins and a draw from their opening nine matches, including victories against Sporting, Porto and Benfica. Guimaraes sit at the opposite end of the spectrum, with the club hovering precariously above the relegation zone, and in desperate need of points against their arch-rivals this weekend. The visiting side will be without two influential players through suspension with Leone - who received a straight red card following a fracas involving Benfica’s Oscar Cardozo last weekend - and influential full-back Joao Pereira both forced to watch from the stands.

Benfica - Naval
 
Benfica will be hoping to exorcise the demons, following their defeat last weekend at the Estadio Axa, with a victory versus mid-table side Naval.  The Lisbon side have been in sizzling form at the Estadio da Luz this season, registering numerous thrashings, including a 6-1 victory against Nacional and a 5-0 demolition of Leixoes. The ‘diabos vermelhos’ travel to arch rivals Sporting Lisbon in the next fixture round and so will be hoping to find a return to form in this fixture. Benfica are without suspended top scorer Oscar Cardozo, and the injured Carlos Martins and Cesar Peixoto. Naval will be without Bellagra for their trip to Lisbon, with the player out through injury.

Maritimo - FC Porto
 
Porto travel to Madeira this weekend in what is a traditionally difficult tie for the team managed by Jesualdo Ferreira. The current league champions have been unconvincing at times this season, culminating in a disappointing home draw versus Belenenses last weekend. Porto currently sit third in the league, and will be hoping a victory this weekend can inspire them to mount a serious title charge, knowing that anything bar the full three points could hinder any aspirations of a fifth successive title. Maritimo have shown glimpses of fine football this season, including a spirited draw versus Sporting Lisbon last weekend and currently sit eighth in the league. The home side are without the injured trio of Kanu, Fernando and Joao Luiz, whilst the ‘dragoes’ are without the injured Valeri and Fucile.

Rio Ave - Sporting Lisbon
 
Sporting will be seeking to put an end to their disastrous form this weekend with the Lisbon side failing to win any of their last four league matches. The ‘leoes’ are under intense pressure to grab a result in this fixture, with last weekends home draw versus Maritimo leaving fans calling for manager Paulo Bento's head. Rio Ave have had an excellent opening to the championship, with the Vila Condense side currently sitting in fifth place in the league and having yet to lose at home this season. The home side will be without the injured Fogaca, Andre Serrao and Andre V. Boas whilst Sporting are without the injured quartet of Caneira, Yannick, Pereirinha and Izmailov.

Manuel Carvalho, Goal.com

Discuss all the latest in the Goal.com Forums.