Just a few weeks ago, it seemed the Portuguese league title was all but decided, Benfica holding a comfortable four point lead over FC Porto had just come off of a prominent away win at Maritimo and knowing they controlled their own fate in the league despite an upcoming fixture at the Estadio Do Dragao against Porto in the penultimate fixture round of the season.
After dispatching Fenerbache in the Europa League semi-finals, moral seemed high at the Lisbon club of accomplishing a possible treble of the League Title, League Cup and the Europa League title. A home game against fourth placed Estoril seemed a winnable fixture at the Estadio Da Luz but the vistiors gave the home team much more trouble than most pundits thought they would and following the dismissal of Benfica midfielder Carlos Martins had a few opportunities to the win the game themselves. Alas, the game ended in a 1-1 draw but more importantly it opened the door for FC Porto to pass Benfica in the overall standings with a win at the Dragao the following week.
With both teams having not lost a game in the league thus far, the match proved a cagey affair with both teams trading goals in the first half. The game seemed destined for a draw which would have suited Benfica fine but a last gasp strike from Porto substitute Kelvin in stoppage time sent the Porto bench and fans into delirium while Benfica coach Jorge Jesus fell to his knees knowing his team's league championship aspirations may have just gone up in smoke.
A mid-week Europa League final loss to Chelsea thanks to another stoppage time goal added more misery to Benfica as a once promising season was wilting away at the seems. Heading into the final league fixtures which will be played in a few short hours, the math is simple: Benfica must win at home to relegation threatened Moreirense and hope Porto do not equal their result away to surprise outfit Pacos Ferriera who have secured a Champions League qualification birth by finishing third in the league and only losing three times all season(one of those losses was to Porto 2-0 at the Dragao). Should Porto lose at Pacos and Benfica draw against Moreirense, the Lisbon could would win the league based on goal difference over Porto. All in all, the last matchday of the Portuguese League will surely be one that delivers plenty of drama but in the end Porto hold their own fate in their hands while Benfica do not.
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