Jesus, Just (Let Him) Go Already!

Why do Portuguese teams hold onto their coaches, like wild carnivorous animals to their prey?

Some are not worth holding onto.

I think Jorge Jesus has failed to win enough trophies at Benfica, many at the last moment, that somebody should just fire him.

Or, if they're too stupid to fire you, Jorge, have some pride, man! Resign! You ain't gonna win shit with Benfica!
(Maybe an insignificant trinket here, an insignificant trinket there... But never a big trophy, like the Liga Sagres. You're done!)

The game, on the first matchday, against Maritimo, was a disaster for Benfica SL.

Not only did they fail to win, but they failed to impress, as well.
And the only goal they scored, to make it 1-1, came after a huge blunder by a Maritimo defender.

With such a lousy start from their best opponent, Porto is going to move ahead very quickly...

Highlights:

Portugal - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2012-2013

FC Porto --> Champions League Group Stage
Benfica Lisbon --> Champions League Group Stage
SC Braga --> Champions League Play-off Round
Sporting Lisbon --> Europa League Play-off Round
Maritimo Funchal --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Academica Coimbra --> Europa League Group Stage

Porto Wins the Title in Portugal

Benfica could not beat Rio Ave today.

This means FC Porto are the new Primeira Liga champions!

The rules of the Portuguese league state that FC Porto has the tiebreaker over Benfica (- direct matches -) who is the only team that could still end up tied on points with the Oporto giants.

So, Porto wins this title without even playing. I'm sure they're having some fun at the expense of Benfica's humiliating failure.

In hindsight, Porto was clearly the best team, though, beating Benfica and Braga (and Maritimo, which makes it three of the other four from the top five) away from home! That's just excellent form!

This is Porto's 26th title. (Benfica has 32 overall.)

Highlights from Rio Ave - Benfica 2-2:


Highlights from Maritimo - Porto 0-2:

Braga's Challenge, Over?

Looks like Sporting Braga lost it exactly when they needed it most.

They had two huge matches, Benfica away and Porto at home, and, given their previous form of over 10 consecutively won games in the league, Braga seemed like they could really do it to their much-more-famous rivals.

Unfortunately for them, though, Braga cracked and could not muster even a single point from these two matches.

Porto, who beat them 1-0 in Braga today, thanks to a Hulk goal, early in the second half, is now 5 points ahead of Braga.

Benfica faces a tough challenge on Monday - they're playing Sporting Lisbon away - but they could stay within one point of Porto and pull away from Braga, too.
(Of course, though, Sporting needs points for their fight against Maritimo, too.)

...And Braga seems lost in between the top two and 4th and 5th, now, with nowhere to go.

Highlights: