It’s a long way to go for the Primeira Liga’s defending champions, FC Porto, as they sit 10 points adrift of the current league leaders Sporting CP, the former club of Manchester United’s midfield general Bruno Fernandes, as the league approaches its 24th matchweek.
Sporting CP are the only team in Portugal’s premier football competition who are yet to lose a game this season, winning 19 of the 23 matches so far. The last time they dropped points was against Porto, who knocked Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus out of the UEFA Champions League.
As things stand, it’s been a tough competition for the second UCL spot, with both SC Braga and SL Benfica giving Porto a run for their money. A mere three points separate fourth-placed Benfica to Porto.
This fight could well and truly have its winner this weekend when Braga host Benfica at the Estádio Municipal de Braga. Apart from this big game, there is also a scrappy fight going on for the relegation strugglers, with only six points separating bottom-placed SC Farense to 10th placed B-SAD.
It’s been a refreshing change of guard for the fans of Primeira Liga; a league that has been dominated by Porto and Benfica since the 2002-03 season. It was in the 2001-02 season when a team apart from Porto and Benfica had won the title. Incidentally, Sporting won it back then.
Primeira Liga match week 24 schedule, fixtures and India match times
| Date, Day | Match | Time (IST) |
| Saturday, March 20 | Gil Vicente vs Nacional | 2:00 AM |
| Saturday, March 20 | Pacos Ferreira vs Moreirense | 9:00 PM |
| Saturday, March 20 | Santa Clara vs Tondela | 9:00 PM |
| Saturday, March 20 | Portimonense vs Porto | 11:30 PM |
| Sunday, March 21 | Sporting vs Vitoria SC | 2:00 AM |
| Sunday, March 21 | Rio Ave vs B-SAD | 8:30 PM |
| Sunday, March 21 | Boavista vs Farense | 11:00 PM |
| Sunday, March 21 | Maritimo vs Famalico | 11:00 PM |
| Monday, March 22 | Braga vs Benfica | 1:30 AM |
Portugal’s Primeira Liga will not be broadcast in India.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Miguel Riopa
