Porto, Sporting and Benfica all look like genuine Primeira Liga title contenders

10/11/21 1651

We may only be 11 games into the 2021/22 Primeira Liga campaign, but it already looks as though the biggest three teams in Portugal are running away from the chasing pack.

Porto and Sporting are locked on 29 points at the top of table, with third-place Benfica just a single point behind.

With fourth-place Estoril Praia sitting eight points shy of Benfica, the Primeira Liga title battle is already looking like a three-horse race.

Let’s start by looking at the league leaders, Porto, who remain unbeaten – having won nine and drawn two of their 11 games this term.

Sergio Conceicao’s men have netted a whopping 28 goals (2.5 goals per game), making them the top scorers in the division.

Luis Diaz (9 goals, 2 assists) and Mehdi Taremi (7 goals, 4 assists) have been immense this season, combining to play a part in almost 80% of Porto’s goals.

Remarkably, Sporting have also yet to taste defeat this term. Just like Porto, they have claimed nine wins and two draws.

The Lions may have scored 11 goals less than Porto, but they boast the best defensive record in the league – having conceded a measly four goals.

Antonio Adan has kept seven clean sheets in 11 games so far, giving him a shutout rate of 63.6% – almost 20% better than his nearest challenger.

In third place, Benfica have recorded nine wins, one draw, and one loss this season. As a result, the sit one point behind Porto and Sporting.

The Eagles have scored just one goal less than Porto this term. At the other end of the pitch, they have conceded the same number.

Rafa Silva (5 goals, 3 assists) and Darwin Nunez (5 goals, 2 assists) have been Benfica’s main threats, while Roman Yaremchuk (4 goals, 1 assist) and Everton (2 goals, 3 assists) have also shone.

At the end of the day, the really is very little to separate Porto, Sporting and Benfica at the Primeira Liga summit.

Porto and Benfica are scoring goals for fun at the moment. Sporting have struggled to find the net, but their backline has been immense.

Porto and Sporting have already played out a goalless draw this season, underlining the similarities between two sides.

With the three frontrunners all looking seriously strong, the title race could be decided by the results of head-to-head matchups between the teams.