Sporting de Braga plays this Wednesday at Sporting’s stronghold, at the close of the 18th day of the Portuguese 1st football league, seeking to shorten the gap for leader Benfica, while FC Porto, third, visits Marítimo.
After Benfica’s triumph in Arouca (3-0), on Tuesday, the championship leader ‘shot’ to 50 points, with two games more than the three most direct pursuers, leaving Minho at 10, in second place, with the need to win to keep the distance.
Artur Jorge’s team, now an ‘orphan’ of striker Vitinha, sold to Marseille on the last day of the transfer market in January, has a difficult mission in Alvalade against fourth place, which adds 32 points, after an irregular season.
On the other hand, the Portuguese internationals Bruma and Pizzi can debut, who arrived in the last days of the preseason to increase the options in the attacking midfield.
The ‘lions’, for their part, come from the defeat in the League Cup final (2-0), against FC Porto, and the loss of the Spanish Pedro Porro against Tottenham, compensated, in terms of Acquisitions are concerned, with the arrival of compatriot Héctor Bellerín, on loan from FC Barcelona, as well as central defender Ousmane Diomandé.
Even before that game that closes the 18th round, scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m., FC Porto, third with 39 points, visits the ‘afflicted’ Marítimo, 17th and penultimate, in Madeira, with their sights set on beating the braganos and wait for what the rivals do.
With the victory, the team led by Sérgio Conceição, ‘quiet’ at the close of the market, will always take advantage of the result of the great game of the day, and if the ‘greens and whites’ give a ‘help’, they will finish in second place.
Program of the 18th:
– Sunday, January 29:
Pia House – Santa Clara, 2-1.
Vizela – Rio Ave, 3-1.
Boavista – Portimonense, 4-2.
Famalicao-Estoril Praia, 1-0.
– Monday, 30 Jan:
Vitória de Guimarães – Desportivo de Chaves, 2-1.
– Tuesday, January 31:
Pacos de Ferreira – Gil Vicente, 2-1.
Arouca – Benfica, 0-3.
– Wednesday, February 1:
Marítimo – FC Porto, 7:00 p.m.
Sporting – Sporting Braga, 21:15
Source: TSF
