Porto on course for treble

UEFA Champions League semi-finalists FC Porto celebrated their 20th Portuguese title success with a 1-0 defeat of Alverca Futebol SAD.

Seventh heaven
Porto became champions for the seventh time in ten years on Saturday night when second-placed Sporting Club de Portugal - who could have stayed in the hunt for the domestic crown with a draw or a win - fell 1-0 at UD Leiria following a 49th-minute goal from Alhandra. José Mourinho's team now boast an unassailable six-point lead as they have a better head-to-head record against Sporting and SL Benfica, who can now only equal them on points.

Title safe
Despite the title already being safe, Porto - who may win more silverware when they take on Benfica in the Portuguese Cup final on 16 May - went all out for victory. The three points came courtesy of a 50th-minute strike from midfield player José Bosingwa.

Benfica win
Benfica, meanwhile, went level with Sporting on 70 points after a 3-1 home defeat of CF Estrela da Amadora. Nuno Gomes, Tomislav Sokota and Luís Miguel were all on target for the home side. Sporting and Benfica meet next week in a match which should decide the recipient of the coveted second Champions League spot.

Other games
Elsewhere, Adriano Rossato collected a hat-trick to inspire fourth-placed CD Nacional to a 3-0 defeat of SC Beira-Mar, Boavista FC triumphed for the second consecutive weekend thanks to a Fary Faye strike in a 1-0 away win against Gil Vicente FC and AA Coimbra prevailed 3-2 at home against FC Pacos de Ferreira. FC beat visitors CS Maritimo 3-0 while CF Os Belenenses brushed aside Rio Ave FC 3-0.