Classic matches helped define the championship, which Porto led alone from the 4th round.
FC Porto had a near-perfect run in the first half of the season = 16 wins in 17 games, conceding only one draw against Benfica = but ended up suffering some setbacks in the second half of the championship. The surprising away defeat against Casa Pia reignited the title race, however, the victory in Braga, after draws against Sporting and Benfica, ultimately propelled the Dragons to victory in their 31st national championship.
Maisfutebol highlights the five most important moments in Porto’s title win:
1. Sporting-FC Porto, 1-2 (4th round)
The start was dazzling, but it was in Alvalade that the first major test of the new dragon’s mettle took place. Francesco Farioli’s team proved up to the challenge and, with a very personal performance, beat the two-time champions 2-1. New signing Luuk de Jong opened the scoring (60th minute), netting his only goal of the season before suffering a serious injury. A superb goal from William Gomes followed four minutes later, and not even Nehuén Pérez’s own goal (74th minute) compromised the victory. We have a contender!, one could exclaim. FC Porto seized the sole lead and never relinquished it until the end.
2. FC Porto-Sporting, 1-1 (Matchday 21)
After a near-perfect first half of the season, FC Porto surprisingly slipped up in matchday 20, suffering their first defeat, a surprising loss against Casa Pia, and reignited their title race. With their rivals four points behind, the Clássico in matchday 21 gained new interest, and FC Porto came very close to taking a crucial step – and increasing their lead to seven points again – with a goal from Seko Fofana (76th minute). The ending, however, was dramatic at the Dragão stadium. A penalty for a handball by Francisco Moura gave Luis Suárez the chance to equalize in the 90+9th minute, in the last play of the game.
3. Benfica-FC Porto, 2-2 (Matchday 25)
Another visit to Lisbon, another display of personality. However, while in Alvalade, FC Porto secured a two-goal advantage and guaranteed victory, at Luz the 2-0 scoreline wasn’t enough to take the three points. Once again, the new signings made the difference. The indispensable Froholdt opened the scoring after just 10 minutes, and an anthology-worthy play by young Oskar Pietuszewski (40) extended the lead before halftime. Problem solved? Not at all. Near the end, Benfica salvaged a point with goals from Schjelderup (69) and Leandro Barreiro (88). The league leaders failed to capitalize on Sporting’s draw in Braga (2-2) and remained with “only” a four-point advantage.
4. Sp. Braga-FC Porto, 1-2 (27th round)
The Quarry was seen as one of the last major obstacles on the Dragons’ path to the title. And the truth is that FC Porto put up a tenacious fight, with a comeback and much celebration at the end.
Zalazar, from the penalty spot (54), put Sp. Braga ahead, but Porto’s reaction was overwhelming: William Gomes equalized (69) after a run by Pietuszewski and Seko Fofana, the man of important goals, came on to score the winning goal (80) in a hard-fought victory for Minho.
5. Estoril-FC Porto, 1-3 (29th round)
The euphoria in Braga was followed by the trauma against Famalicão. After a stoppage-time goal by Seko Fofana sparked celebrations at the Dragão stadium, in the final moments of the game, the Minho side snatched a draw (2-2) that left the league leaders doubting themselves. A week later, in Estoril, came a response worthy of the champions. In one of the theoretically most difficult away games of the final stretch of the season, the Dragons arrived, saw, and conquered 3-1: Pepe (14) and Froholdt scored (72), with Xeka also scoring an own goal (32). With five games to go, the path to the title was definitively open.