Jornada 4 Recap: Logjammin’ At the Top O’ The Table

By: Greg | September 30th, 2008

Four matches have been played and only three points separate first place from tenth. While I don’t necessarily expect Nacional and Leixões to be top o’ the table contenders when it’s all said and done, as I’ve intimated in the past, the matches at the start of the season count for just as many points as the matches at the end. A fast start to a football season never hurts, regardless of whatever matches may lie ahead.

This week saw Porto get back to their winning ways after a disappointing draw with new boys Rio Ave last week. Benfica took this year’s first round of the Lisbon derby with Sporting by resoundingly defeating Paulo Bento’s side 2-0 at home. Trofense look sure to go right back down after being promoted this year with yet another trouncing, this time at the hands of smokin’ Manny Cajuda’s V.Guimarães. Here are the rest of the scores, superlatives, and le tableau.

Porto 2 – 0 P. Ferreira
Braga 1 – 1 Naval
V.Setúbal 1 – 0 Rio Ave
Benfica 2 – 0 Sporting
Marítimo 2 – 0 Académica
Nacional 1 – 2 E. Amadora
Trofense 1 – 3 V.Guimarães
Belenenses 0 – 1 Leixões

Hero of the Week — Vidigal, Estrela da Amadora — An away brace to secure the three points against current front runners Nacional is “Hero” material in my book. Although, as you’ll see in the highlights below, the Amadora keeper was no slouch either in doing his part to take home the victory.

Goats of the Week — Trofense — This is more of a “Goats of the Season Thus Far” award, but a 3-1 ass kicking at the hands of V.Guimarães in the fourth match of the season means they’re still without a point. I know they just got promoted, but did they miss the Liga Vitalis that badly that they’ve given up three goals in three of their first four matches?

Clean Sheets of the Week — Helton (Porto), Bruno Vale (V.Setúbal), Quim (Benfica), Marcos (Marítimo), and Beto (Leixões).

Table (After 4 Matches Played)
1.) Nacional – 9
2.) Sporting – 9
3.) Leixões – 9
4.) Porto – 8
5.) Benfica – 8
6.) V.Setúbal – 7
7.) V.Guimarães – 7
8.) Naval – 7
9.) E.d.Amadora – 7
10.) Académica – 6
11.) Marítimo – 4
12.) Braga – 4
13.) Rio Ave – 2
14.) Paços de Ferreira – 1
15.) Belenenses – 1
16.) Trofense – 0

I used to preview the matches for whatever clubs were involved in the Champions League, but since we now have a writer for ~~the Tripeiros~~ Porto, he’s gladly assumed responsibility for handling that for his club. Go read his musings, and leave me alone!