Primeira Liga wrap: Benfica go top after Corona opens for Porto

Benfica have moved to the top of Portugal’s Primeira Liga despite drawing 0-0 at home to Tondela on Thursday night (June 4).

The Eagles dominated at the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica and mustered 15 shots in total with five of them on target but failed to breach the visitors’ backline.

Thursday’s draw took Benfica back to the top on goal difference as they have amassed the same number of points – 60 – as Porto, after 25 games.

Benfica should have scored in the second half when defender Ruben Dias headed against the woodwork from a corner and substitute Dyego Sousa also saw his header come off the frame – and then had a shot cleared off the line in added time.

Benfica manager, Bruno Lage was left to ponder what might have been, at full time.

“We were almost always in the opponents’ half, we created a lot more opportunities, we were the best team on the pitch, we played pretty well but that is not enough,” Lage said of the game that was played in an empty stadium due to the corona pandemic.

“It is a shame we did not take this opportunity to make a good start and go clear at the top of the championship.”

“The presence and warmth of the supporters was missing. It was yet another element that was missing today,” added Lage.

In another game decided on Thursday, Sporting played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Vitoria Guimaraes.

Sporting twice took the lead through Slovenian striker Andraz Sporar but Joao Carlos Teixeira and then Marcus Edwards levelled for the home side.

In the early game on Thursday, Matritimo and Vitoria de Setubal played out a 1-1 draw at Estadio do Maritimo.

Jorge Correa opened the scoring for the hosts on 11 minutes but the visitors hit back through Tiago eight minutes from time.

Thursday’s action came after the Premeira Liga resumed on Wednesday (June 3) with the opening goal of the season scored by Jesus Corona in a game that saw Porto lose 2-1 to FC Famalicao. The goal, the first in the Premeira Liga since top flight football worldwide was stopped by the coronavirus pandemic, sent social media into a spin and drew huge attention to Portugal’s premier football league.