Benfica and FC Porto clash for top of Portugal

Benfica and Porto face off in Week 21in the Portuguese League with the winner moving three points clear of the other for top spot in Portugal. The two clubs after 20 games sit with the exact same record and a loss by either club would not spell the end of their title hopes but their destiny would be not controlled by them.

Benfica and Porto played to a 2-2 in their first encounter this season at the Dragao but both clubs will be looking for a win as they play their second encounter at the Luz in Lisbon.

Key Players to watch in the game:

Benfica- Gaitan, Cardozo, B. Cesar, Aimar

FC Porto- Hulk, J. Rodriguez, Janko, Maicon

Potential Starting Eleven:

Benfica- Artur, Jardel, M. Pereira, Garay, Emerson, Matic, Gaitan, Djalo, B. Cesar, Witsel, Cardozo

FC Porto- Helton, A. Pereira, Rolando, Maicon, Sapunaru, Fernando, L. Gonzalvez, J. Moutinho, Hulk, J. Rodriguez, Janko

Past 5 league games:

Benfica 2-2 FC Porto at Dragao Sept 23/11

FC Porto 2-1 Benfica at Luz Apr 3/11

Benfica 0-5 FC Porto at Dragao Nov 7/10

Benfica 1-3 FC Porto at Dragao May 2/10

FC Porto 0-1 Benfica at Luz Dec 20/09

Looking Back at Week 20 in the Portuguese League

Week 20 saw Benfica cough up their lead atop Portugal with a disappointing scoreless draw against Academica, combine that with Porto's 2-0 win over Feirense and the clubs are now tied atop Portugal with 49 points a piece and both clubs will face one another in Week 21 action. Braga continued their stellar form in the league earning their seventh straight victory with a 4-0 win over Guimaraes and sit in third place, three points behind the leaders.

Maritimo and Sporting were both victorious and remain tied for fourth place eleven points behind the leaders. Sporting defeated Rio Ave 1-0, while Maritimo got the better of Leiria 1-0.

Setubal won 3-2 over Beira Mar leaping out of the cellar in Portugal and out of relegation. Nacional defeated Pacos Ferreira 2-0 and sit now in seventh place in Portugal. Gil Vicente and Olhanense played to scoreless draw.

Road Team of the Week: Nacional

Home Team of the Week: Braga

Player of the Week: Hugo Viana (Braga)

Portugal announce squad for friendly against Poland

Portugal coach Paulo Bento has announced his 23 man squad for the upcoming friendly against Poland in Warsaw on February 29/12.

Bento has added U20 senstation and Benfica striker Nelson Oliveira to his squad, as the youngster earns his first call up to the squad, while Manuel Fernandes has made his way back to the National side.

Goalies:

Rui Patricio (Sporting)
Eduardo (Benfica)
Beto (CFR Cluj)

Defenders:

Pepe (Real Madrid)
Bruno Alves (Zenit)
Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid)
Joao Pereira (Sporting)
Ricardo Costa (Valencia)
Nelson (Real Betis)
Rolando (FC Porto)

Midfielders:

Joao Moutinho (FC Porto)
Raul Meireles (Chelsea)
Ruben Micael (Real Zaragoza)
Carlos Martins (Granada)
Manuel Fernandes (Besiktas)
Miguel Veloso (Genoa)

Forwards:

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Nani (Manchester United)
Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas)
Hugo Almeida (Besiktas)
Helder Postiga (Real Zaragoza)
Nelson Oliveira (Benfica)
Varela (FC Porto)

Looking back at Week 19 in the Portuguese League

Week 19 saw Benfica suffer their first defeat of the season at Guimaraes 2-1, the loss dropped Benfica's lead atop Portugal to two points over Porto who defeated Setubal 3-1. Braga continued in third place after their 3-0 win over Gil Vicente.

Maritimo and Sporting continued their battle for fourth spot as both clubs won this weekend, Maritimo 3-1 over Rio Ave and Sporting 1-0 over Pacos Ferreira.

Feirense and Olhanense played to a 1-1 draw as Leiria and Beira Mar matchup ended up scoreless, while Nacional moved into seventh spot with a 4-1 win over Academica

Road Team of the Week: Braga

Home Team of the Week: Nacional

Player of the Week: Lima (Braga)

Milan target Real's Pepe to inforce back end

Italian giants AC Milan are looking to inforce their back end and have made Real Madrid's Pepe one of their main targets. Pepe who has a signed contract with Real until the 2016 season, does not look to be going anywhere as long as Mourinho is running the club but Milan will make an offer looking for Real to bite.

Looking Back at Week 18 in the Portuguese League

Week 18 saw Benfica maintain their five point lead atop Portugal with a convincing 4-1 win over Nacional. Porto made sure not to fall further behind with a 4-0 win over visiting Leiria, while Braga's 3-0 win over Setubal kept them three points back of Porto.

Maritimo moved into a tie for fourth spot after their 2-0 home win over Sporting, a loss that cost Sporting head coach Domingos his job. Guimaraes stayed in sixth spot with a 1-0 win over Beira Mar and Gil Vicente continued their fine form of late with a 2-0 win vaulting them into seventh place.

Pacos Ferreira defeated Feirense 3-1 and Rio Ave doubled Olhanense 2-0.

Road Team of the Week: Gil Vicente

Home Team of the Week: FC Porto

Player of the Week: Rodrigo (Benfica) & Lima (Braga)