After the 'dragons' thrashing in the Invicta classic, against Boavista, by 4-0, the 'eagles' (38 points) and the 'lions' (37) were overtaken and only by winning can they stop the Porto fans (40) to close the year at the top of the table.
The champions' new coach, Rui Borges, succeeded João Pereira the day after Christmas, who had taken Ruben Amorim's place, and would hardly have had a more difficult test, hosting a Benfica team that had won 10 of the last 11 games in the championship.
With new momentum after the arrival of Bruno Lage, who replaced Roger Schmidt, the 'eagles' entered the round in the lead and will want to leave in the same condition, against a Sporting team that only won one of the last four games in the competition.
Having overtaken Santa Clara in fourth place, Sporting de Braga seeks to reach the fifth consecutive game without losing in the championship, hosting Casa Pia, eighth place, which has not lost in three rounds and reached the top of the table.
In turn, Daniel Sousa debuts as coach of Vitória de Guimarães at Farense's home, seeking to keep the Minho team, sixth, in the fight for the 'top 5', after the departure of Rui Borges, who only won two of the last 10 games.
The Algarve, in turn, are going through the best phase of the season and have only lost in one of the last five rounds, being able to reach 15 points, and leave the relegation zone, in case of victory.
Rio Ave, 12th, with 16 points, hosts Nacional, 15th, with 13 and the first club above the 'water line'.
The 16th round ends on Monday with Famalicão hosting Santa Clara, at 8:15 pm, pitting the ninth to fifth placed teams.
16th round program:
Friday
Arouca – Gil Vicente, 1-1.
Saturday
AVS – Estrela da Amadora, 1-1.
Estoril Praia – Moreirense, 2-2.
FC Porto – Boavista, 4 to 0.
Domingo
Farense – Vitória de Guimarães, 15:30.
Rio Ave – National, 3:30 p.m.
Sporting de Braga – Casa Pia, 18:00.
Sporting – Benfica, 20:30.
Monday
Famalicão – Santa Clara, 20:15.
(With Lusa)
