Liga Portugal Bwin: Portimonense 1-0 Famalicão

Portimonense finally put an end to their 14-match winless run dating back to December of last year by beating close league table rivals Famalicão 1-0 at the Municipal Stadium last Sunday afternoon.

Manager Paulo Sérgio’s men were good value for their first three points of 2022 and could easily have won by a more comfortable margin. Fabrício struck the bar albeit from an off-side position early on before Carlinhos went close just before the half-hour mark.

Bruno Rodrigues then headed against the crossbar for the visitor’s best chance of the first half, which ended with Portimonense taking the lead – Nakajima played on an Angulo cross which Welinton Junior headed home after his initial effort had rebounded off the post.

Following the break, Famalicão keeper Luiz Júnior produced a string of excellent saves to keep out Pedrão, Welinton and DaCosta while a Relvas effort was only a fraction wide.

As the game drew to a close, Lucas Possignolo collected his second yellow card – and the 11th over all of a very physical encounter – and will now miss Saturday’s trip to Porto along with Willyan (three-match ban), Welinton (fifth yellow), Sapara (injured) and Ewerton (doubtful).

Meanwhile, Portimonense are now on a safe-looking 32 points, seven clear of the play-off and relegation places.

Off the pitch, Brazilian club Botafogo have finalised a loan and option-to-buy deal potentially worth €5 million until December 2023 for Lucas Fernandes, prompting the midfielder’s imminent departure from the Algarve.

By SKIP BANDELE