1. Sporting Lisbon Vs. FC Porto

Saturday, 4:15 pm ET

So far, Porto are pulling away from the pack in Portugal. They’re undefeated through 11 games and currently sit on 31 points, 10 clear of their nearest competitors. They’re close to effectively ending the title race only halfway through the season. Sporting Lisbon are having a much different year, currently sitting on 18 points in fifth place. A win over Porto could seriously jump start their campaign.

After years of disappointments and underachieving, Sporting finally cashed in on some of their young talent in the offseason. Despite being extremely highly rated, Joao Moutinho and Miguel Veloso failed to deliver any glory in their time at Sporting. They were sold to Porto and Genoa, respectably, and their former team has decided to move on with less hype and more money in their pocket. They’ve failed to deliver to start the year yet again, with striker Yannick Djalo scoring only once so far this year. It seems like only recently Yannick was a promising teenager, but as a 24 year old he’s now the latest in a line of over-hyped Sporting prospects. Simon Vukcevic has also made the seemingly rapid transition from talented youngster to not quite good as expected 24 year old. Matias Fernandez has failed to re-produce his form in a Chile shirt for any club. Daniel Carrico seems to be the real deal, but Sporting’s defense, while respectable, is far from dominant.

Porto are off to an absolutely ridiculous start in the league, running riot through everyone they’ve faced. The highlight of the early season was no doubt their 5-0 destruction of Benfica, a match in which highly rated defender David Luiz was ripped limb from limb. Porto’s unstoppable attacking trio is made up of Hulk, Varela, and Falcao. They have combined for 23 goals in 11 games, five of those coming from that trio in the Benfica match. Joao Moutinho is finding much more success in a new shirt and Porto’s previously shaky defense has been impressively patched up, allowing only four goals in 11 games. Young first year manager Andre Villas Boas has done an incredible job in molding the best side in Portugal.

Sporting will provide a stiffer challenge than Benfica did, but not by a whole lot. Porto should bring it yet again, and I like them to win 3-1.