Primeira Liga de Portugal 2011/12

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The best league in Europe without an ILF thread, until now. I can't offer an Iberian's perspective or even a Lusophone's, but I do plan to watch at least one match per week, and there are many quality players in the Liga ZON Sagres who deserve to have their highlights embedded somewhere. See for instance the languid perfection of this strike (with matching celebration) by Nico Gaitán:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j62kXE8hOP8

Gaitán is back with Benfica this season, and in fact nearly every star player of last season has stayed in Portugal (so far), in stark contrast to the summer of 2010 when Di María, Ramires, Meireles and Bruno Alves all left for Spain, England and Russia. The major exception is Benfica's attacking left-back Fábio Coentrão, who has joined Real Madrid despite their continued ownership of the other best attacking left-back in the world, Marcelo. Joan Capdevila has been signed from Villarreal as his replacement.

I've just watched Porto begin their title defence with a 1-0 win away to Vitória de Guimarães, who were fifth last season and have already this season advanced to the final Europa League qualifying round where they'll face Atlético Madrid.

Porto dominated possession in this match but lacked the energy of their best play last season - I think they missed their left-sided wingback/midfielder Álvaro Pereira, who is still being rested after winning the Copa América with Uruguay. They appear to have kept faith with the extremely high defensive line that André Villas-Boas favored, which was shaky enough to allow Guimarães some excellent chances that they could not finish.

The winning goal was a penalty in first-half stoppage time narrowly converted off the keeper's gloves and the post by Hulk, last season's league top scorer.

nearly every star player of last season has stayed in Portugal (so far)

I opened my mouth to pontificate and Radamel Falcao flew out, met a cross of unknown provenance with a diving header into the far corner, and landed softly on a pile of money in Madrid.

This would appear to be an enormous blow to Porto's ability to make a deep CL run, but I imagine they're still favorites for the league, depending on whether Benfica's new striker Nolito maintains his great early scoring rate. Porto beat Gil Vicente 3-1 tonight, might catch a replay later.

Caught bits and pieces of Benfica vs Twente. Wasn't overly impressed with Benifica tbh

I did end up watching both Porto and Benfica this weekend - two narrow wins against newly promoted sides.

Nolito maintained his streak, he's now scored in all five of Benfica's competitive matches so far this season (league + CL qualifiers). Played as a left winger and does provide width but he also gets into the box at the right times and his finishing looks excellent. Supposedly Barcelona let him go without the sort of buyback clause they normally insist on of late. Benfica missed a number of chances - Aimar and Saviola still look v dangerous at least against this level of defending - but still won 2-1.

Porto's defence again looked very uncertain, one poor pass in the 2nd minute led to conceding a penalty because they were playing just behind their own halfway line. Their match ended up a 3-1 win but they have yet to score from open play this year. Hulk scored twice, another penalty and a rocket of a free-kick. Things like the ferocity of his shot, his name and his build may always cause his technical ability to be overlooked but it's really impressive. Sometimes he beats full-backs with pace or just overpowers them, but he can also run directly at them at decent speed while keeping his dribble in very tight spaces until other defenders are pulled out of position to help, opening space for a pass.

First clássico of the season kicks off in 2.5 hours. I've done a poor job at updating this thread but in my defence Porto and Benfica have only dropped two points combined in the last month. Really looking forward to this.

How do Sporting Lisbon fit into all this? For part of a supposed big three, they have been rubbish pretty much ever since I became aware of them.

They last really contended for the title in 08-09, and their only standout player in the post-Cristiano, Nani, Quaresma era was Joao Moutinho, who they made captain but eventually sold against their will to Porto. Current squad looks to be a very mixed bag, though I haven't seen them play yet, I only ever get Porto on television.

'rubbish' is relative I guess - they have still had 28 top three finishes during my 35 years (though Benfica have managed 32, and Porto all 35!)

Helton; Fucile, Rolando, Otamendi, Álvaro Pereira; Fernando, Guarín, Moutinho; Hulk, Kléber, Silvestre Varela

Artur; Maxi Pereira, Luisão, Garay, Emerson; Javi García, Witsel; Gaitán, Aimar, Nolito; Cardozo

James Rodríguez would normally start at left forward (ahead of Varela) but is suspended, major blow for Porto, otherwise both teams all first-string.

benfica are shit

like stoke w/ the long throws

Yeah, I'm surprised by that. The Witsel-Javi midfield has been getting rave reviews up til now. Didn't watch them vs Man Utd.

so: Porto 1-0 at HT, Kléber glanced header from inswinging free-kick around 40'. They've had all the possession, Hulk v dangerous though maybe a little selfish at times.

2' after the restart, a Benfica equaliser - Nolito delivers an awes through ball and Cardozo nimbly takes it around the keeper.

Porto immediately back in front, short corner produces a low cross from Varela that Artur can't reach, Otamendi taps in.

Benfica were excellent against Utd btw, extremely mobile and made Utd look lumbering for long stretches. But then Utd got an equaliser and afaict weren't in massive danger afterwards, so typical Utd doing enough I guess. Was impressed by Benfica though.

They have not done much offensively tonight but their attacking quartet are all quality players.

And now that 3/4 of Porto's defence are on bookings they should have more space to work.

Benfica nearly equalise from one of those Delapesque throw-ins, but it's offside.

And now they do equalise! Nico Gaitán, powerful left-footed shot off the underside of the bar.

83', 2-2, Porto won't be satisfied with a draw at home, should be a good finish.

Possibly the worst-curated thread on ILF? so much so that I suspect clássico #2 was probably discussed on a different thread earlier today.

Anyway I'm catching up with it now, disappointed that James misses out again but Lucho is a plus.

do tell if lucho is any good, he had a horrid time in marseille. when i heard he was coming to play for om, i was expecting awesome stuff, be he very rarely proved to be worth the 24M€ they bought him for. can't remember how much they sold him back to porto for, but porto really made out like bandits on both trades !

as nakhchivan has observed elsewhere, there's little shame in being taken by Porto, they're so consistently good in the transfer market.

First half was frantic but exciting, like most big EPL matches this season. Lucho played a nice through ball at one point. Second half has been a succession of free-kicks and a nice counterattacking goal by substitute James Rodriguez, 2-2 with 20' to play.

Finishes 2-3 Porto win, too drunk to offer intelligent commentary but James changed the course of the match and for his trouble (1 goal, 1 assist) was rewarded with a nasty foul and being spit on as the final whistle blew, not quite as bad as Totti on Balotelli in that Coppa Italia match but still a shame.