Benfica inflict own wounds and drop from top spot

Benfica have dropped points in league action once again this time against Moreirense and have finally cost themselves top spot in the Portuguese League. Benfica who only a month ago had a seven point lead atop the Portuguese League have only won one league game in their last four, acquiring four total points in that span on their way to falling out of first place to their only rivals for the title FC Porto by one point. Benfica have struggled to finish of late and this game was no different with the club missing a host of chances to take the lead, the club had Pizzi miss two opportunities from the penalty spot and had a Rafa Silva goal called back after a VAR review that spotted a Pizzi handball before the ball landed at Rafa's feet.

Benfica ended up lucky to even earn a draw in the encounter with the goal to equalize coming in additional time. Benfica's winter transfer window continues to baffle fans more and more as this poor run continues, the lack of picking up an experienced central defender has caused the club to use a less then 100% Ferro regularly in the center of the defense while youngster Tomas Tavares continues to show that he is not ready for a regular role in place of injured Andre Almeida as he continues to be caught out of position, while adding little to the attack in the right back position. 


The club spent €20M during the winter transfer window on defensive midfielder Julian Weigl for a position that the club has an abundance of players while leaving gaping holes in a broken back four. The heat is on manager Bruno Lage to sort out the clubs current woes but Lage does not seem to have an answer or show any creativity to get the club out of this funk. The season still has 11 games before the finish line is reached and trailing only by one point it is far from over but the clubs current form could see them throw away a league championship to one of the weaker Porto squads seen in some time. The clock on Lage is ticking and anything less then a Portuguese League title will see his time end with none of the flare that it had begun.