Porto fluff chance to extend Primeira Liga lead

Porto’s title hopes suffered a blow on Wednesday night as the Portuguese Primeira Liga returned from its two month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sergio Conceicao's Porto were a point ahead of Benfica when the Primeira Liga was suspended in March as part of Portugal's fight against the coronavirus pandemic. FC PORTO/AFP/File

Sergio Conceicao’s side lost 2-1 at Famalicao. The defeat leaves Porto on 60 points after 25 games and means that Benfica can take over top spot with victory at home to relegation threatened Tondela on Thursday night.

Despite the match being played behind closed doors, several Porto supporters congregated outside the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao.

However, they had little to cheer. Fabio Martins broke the deadlock for the hosts just after half-time. And although Jesus Manuel Corona levelled in the 74th minute, Pote hit Famalicao’s winner 12 minutes from time.

Europa League chase

The victory keeps Joao Pedro Sousa’s men in the hunt for one of the two berths that lead to a place in next season’s Europa League.

At the other end of the Primeira Liga, Lucas scored the only goal of the game as second from bottom Portimonense beat Gil Vicente to close to within three points of Pacos de Ferreira who restart their campaign on Sunday at sixth placed Rio Ave.

The Primeira Liga is the second major European championship to relaunch after the coronavirus lockdown. The German Bundesliga restarted on 16 May and the English Premier League is scheduled to begin on 17 June. Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A are also due to return during June.

After championships in the Netherlands and Belgium were terminated, the French league was declared over on 30 April.

Two clubs, Amiens and Toulouse, will present their case to judges at the Conseil d'Etat on Thursday as part of the legal action against the decision which led to their relegation from Ligue 1 to the second tier.

Lyon, who were denied the chance to compete for a place in the European competitions after the Ligue de Football Professionnel’s move, will also take their complaints to the Conseil d'Etat. Lyon want Ligue 1 to be resumed.