Liga Sagres wrap: Wins for Porto, Sporting put pressure on Benfica

Porto seem intent on drawing away at the top of Liga Sagres standings, while Sporting Lisbon had their own slender win on Saturday.

The title race this campaign is likely to finish much closer than last, when Porto finished 19 points ahead of second-placed Benfica at season’s end.

Those days of domination are over for the reigning champions, but they at least put the pressure back on the chasing pack with a gritty 2-1 win over Beira Mar on Saturday.

An upset at Beira Mar’s Estadio Municipal de Aveiro had been on the cards, however, when Chinese striker Zhang Chengdong handed the hosts the lead on 34 minutes.

But Porto were on level terms six minutes later, after Colombia forward James Rodriguez lashed home a well-taken shot for his fourth league goal in just six starts.

And his side made the points safe on 58 minutes through Hulk, ensuring Benfica must win their tricky away fixture with fifth-placed Maritimo in order to join Porto on 30 points.

Sporting did their own title ambitions no harm, outlasting Nacional de Madeira 1-0 at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.

With Spanish winger Diego Capel busy for the hosts, US defender Oguchi Onyewu outjumped Nacional goalkeeper Marcelo Valverde to nod home after 23 minutes. It was to be all his side needed.

Sporting remain four points adrift from Porto, and will have their own interest in the trip of city rivals Benfica to Maritimo on Sunday.