FC Porto won their 29th Portuguese football champion title on Wednesday by beating Sporting (2-0) at the Dragon stadium to widen the gap before their runner-up, Benfica Lisbon. In front of empty stands due to a pandemic, the goals of this Portuguese classico were signed by the Portuguese international Danilo Pereira (64th) and the Malian international Moussa Marega (90 + 1).
Two days before the end of the championship and the day after Benfica's victory against Vitoria Guimaraes (2-0), Porto now has an eight-point lead against its rival, guaranteed to finish second ahead of Sporting or Braga . Immediately after the match ended, a few cheering supporters began to gather around the Dragon stadium and in the center of Porto, although local authorities called for compliance with the current health and safety regulations.
The "Dragons" of northern Portugal had managed to close a seven-point gap which separated them from the "Eagles" of Lisbon in mid-January and led the race ahead with a head start when the championship was discontinued in mid-March due to the coronavirus epidemic.
Golo do @FCPorto! Golo de Danilo! É o capitão dos dragões que dá vantagem aos azuis e brancos no clássico! FC Porto cada vez but perto de ser campeão. pic.twitter.com/PnZWvqsxZO
- SPORT TV (@SPORTTVPortugal) July 15, 2020When competition resumed in early June behind closed doors, Sérgio Conceiçao's men were joined at the top of the table on two occasions by Benfica, but the defending champion ended up making more mistakes.
The series of poor results from Benfica has also caused the resignation of coach Bruno Lage, replaced two weeks ago by his assistant Nelson Verissimo until the end of the season.
The Famalicao surprise
The supremacy of FC Porto over Benfica materialized in direct confrontations, with a success on the 3rd day at the Stade de la Luz (2-0), the lair of its rival, confirmed in early February by a new victory at Dragon stadium (3-2). The two clubs, which have won all the championship titles since the last coronation of Sporting in 2003, will face off for the last time to end the season, on August 1, in a final of the Portuguese Cup which will be played also in camera.
The other trophy of the season was won at the end of January by Braga, winner of FC Porto in the final of the League Cup (1-0). This edition of the Portuguese championship was also marked by the performance of the promoted Famalicao, currently 5th behind Braga.
At the bottom of the table, Desportivo das Aves is assured of their relegation but five other teams remain on waivers before the last two days of the championship.
Just before the health crisis, another extra-sporting event had also marked the season: the image of the Franco-Malian FC Porto Moussa Marega leaving the grounds of Vitoria Guimaraes to denounce the racist cries of which he was the victim supporters of his former club.
- Benfica
- Port
- Portugal
- Sport