Portugal round-up: Sporting edge past Académica

Fourteen points adrift
Romanian international Marius Niculae scored the only goal of the night at the José Alvalade stadium, his third of the season, to close the gap on neighbours Benfica in the race for a UEFA Champions League place. Substitute Niculae struck on 56 minutes, following up after goalkeeper Hilário had saved from Mário Jardel, in a match that had been brought back two and a half weeks because of a waterlogged pitch.

European hopes
With the top two teams in Portugal entering the Champions League, Sporting enhanced their qualifying prospects with the win, although the Lisbon club remain 14 points behind league leaders FC Porto. Meanwhile, Académica stay in 15th place, three points off the bottom of the table.