Liga Sagres returned on the weekend like the rest of the leagues in Europe. Sporting returned from the international break to the Liga with out a hitch. The Leoes traveled south to Olhanense in the Portuguese region of Algarve. The match Sunday saw Sporting control the game from the get-go, although it took the green and whites 51 minutes to find the breakthrough. The go-ahead goal for Sporting came from the man who leads the goal tally in Portugal and is on loan from the Seattle Sounders, Fredy Montero.

The Lion’s forward has found the net six times in four matches, making him on course to win the Bota de Prata (silver ball).  Fredy’s recent performance against Olhanense and his display in the match with Benfica, has depicted Montero’s many talents on the pitch. His movement off the ball is a factor to marvel, in fact it attributed to his goal against Benfica in the Lisbon derby at the Estadio Avalade. Another surprising feature to Montero’s game has been his ability “to be at the right place at the right time.” The match against Arouca many witnessed his luck, with Sporting’s fifth goal and Fredy’s third on the night, after he lobbed the ball over the defense and smashed the ball home through the hands of Igor Stefanovic.

Sporting Lisbon now sits in second place behind to rivals FC Porto by two points. Porto who have enjoyed a perfect start to the season with four wins in four games, appear to be eager and willing to defend their title. Although both Benfica and Porto will be slightly distracted with their campaigns in the Champions League this year. Should give the Leoes a boost in concentration in an attempt to challenge Porto and Benfica for the Liga Sagres title. Sporting and Porto have an extra aid with having their attacking players on form, for Sporting Fredy Montero and at Porto another Colombian Jackson Martinez. Both players will be crucial to each respected sides campaign for domestic success this year.

This upcoming weekend will be key to Sporting and Porto. Porto travel across Lisbon to Estoril and Sporting entertain Rio at the Avalade. The first real test for Porto, after their victory in Vienna in the Champions League on Wednesday the objective will be to attain three points on the road after a trip to Austria. Sporting would relish the opportunity to possibly overtake Porto if Estoril can attain a result against the dragons. Sporting this campaign does not have a European front to distract them from the objective this season, returning to the upper echelon of Portuguese football.