Portuguese Liga Sagres Preview: Round 13

Full Fixture List (All times are local)

Friday (11th December)

P. Ferreira – Nacional 20:15

Saturday (12th December)
 
Sporting – U. Leiria 17:00
 
Olhanense – Benfica 21:15
 

Academica – Leixoes 16:00

Maritimo – Rio Ave 16:00

Sp. Braga – Naval 18:00

FC Porto – V. Setubal 20:15

Monday (14th December)

Belenenses – V. Guimaraes 20:15

Key Fixtures:

Sporting – U. Leiria

Sporting host Uniao de Leiria on Saturday at the Estadio de Alvalade, and ‘Os Leoes’ will be hoping to build upon their much-needed 2-0 victory last weekend away to Setubal.  Sporting suffered an abysmal period of form early in the season, going six games without a victory, which forced manager Paulo Bento’s exit.  Since the arrival of Carlos Carvalhal, the Lisbon giants have shown a marked improvement in form, and will know that their fans expect nothing less than three points from this tie. Leiria come into this game sitting in a respectable ninth place in the league. However, the visitors have failed to win any of their last three league matches and will be desperate to reverse that trend.  Sporting will be missing the injured quartet of Izmailov, Vukcevic, Yannick and Andre Marques, whilst Leiria are without Diego Gaucho for this match.

Olhanense – Benfica

Benfica travel to Olhanense seeking to secure a result that will keep them at the summit of the Portuguese league.  The Lisbon giants are currently on level points with Sporting Braga, who top the league due to head-to-head results, and are experiencing a rich vein of form, with a 4-0 victory over Academica last weekend providing further proof of their title credentials. With the Classico against FC Porto next week, the Benfica players will understand that any slip-up this weekend will further intensify the pressure going into that game.  Olhanense currently sit second bottom of the league, and have been in dismal form of late, failing to win any of their last eight league matches.  Given their increasingly precarious position in the league, they will be looking to secure some much-needed points against Benfica. Olhanense are missing Joao Goncalves for this match, whilst the visitors must make do without injured quartet Ruben Amorim, Sidnei, Luis Filipe and Carlos Martins.

Sp. Braga – Naval

Sporting Braga host Naval this weekend seeking to add to their flawless home form, the ‘Os Arsenalistas’ having won all of their league matches at Estadio AXA this season.  Braga currently head the Portuguese league, but last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Leixoes allowed title rivals Benfica to join them at the summit on 29 points.  Naval come into this game in eighth position, however the visitors have only secured one victory and one draw away from home this season, and will be less than confident heading into this game against the in-form Braga.  The home side will be without Peterson for this game, whilst Naval shorn of Bellagra and Tandia, who are injured, and the suspended Gomis and Daniel Cruz.

FC Porto – V. Setubal

FC Porto face Vitoria de Setubal at the Estadio do Dragao on Sunday and will be hoping to register their third straight league win.  The champions have been hit and miss so far this season, but an impressive 4-1 victory away to Guimaraes last weekend hinted that ‘Os Dragoes’ may have finally hit form.  Porto trail league leaders Braga and Benfica by three points, and with the classico against Benfica set for next weekend, ‘Os Dragoes’ know that anything less than three points here will complicate their task in Lisbon.  Setubal are currently bottom of the league, having only secured one away victory this season, and will be desperate to register a positive result in Porto.  The home side are without the injured Maicon, who twisted his ankle in the week against Atletico Madrid, whilst Setubal are missing the injured Helder Barbosa and the suspended Andre Pinto.

Manuel Carvalho, Goal.com