Oguchi Onyewu had a potentially crucial goal ruled out for offsides as Sporting needed a second half comeback to secure a tie in the first leg of the Taca de Portugal semifinals.

Oguchi Onyewu helped Sporting to a shutout victory over Belenenses in the Taca de Portugal, making them the clear favorite as the tournament enters the quarterfinals.

Week 11 kicked off after a long hiatus due to International play and the Taca de Portugal qualifying. Beira Mar defeated Academica 1-0 to move into sixth place in the league. Saturday was Derby day in the league as Nacional played Martimo to a 2-2 draw in Madeira, while Benfica hosted Sporting at the Luz.

Oguchi Onyewu was inserted back into the Sporting lineup immediately after returning from international duty, playing the first half in a victory over Famalicao in the Taca de Portugal.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Michael Bradley may not currently be a starter on the U.S. men's national team, but he'll have a big chance to show head coach Jurgen Klinsmann that he's ready for more minutes.

Bradley and Chievo Verona take on league leader Juventus this weekend in a match that the U.

Sporting will enter the third stage of the Taca de Portugal against Famalicao on Saturday, though Domingos Paciencia has not revealed what role Oguchi Onyewu and other regulars will play.

Benfica will be looking to rebound after blowing their two goal advantage over Porto early this week and getting knocked out of the Taca de Portugal after reaching the semi-finals. Benfica have won the League Cup twice already in its four year existence, winning the last two years and are looking to make it three straight today as they take on Pacos Ferreira in the final.

As Liedson wraps up his playing career with Sporting we take a look at the Brazilian turned Portuguese, career in Portugal. Liedson arrived at Sporting from Corinthians in 2003 and has appeared in 214 league games and 311 in all competitions which include the Taca de Portugal, Champions League and Europa League all with Sporting.

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet in the Copa del Rey final

The headlines over the last 24 hours have belonged mainly to the big two of Spanish football as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona marched on to the final of the Copa del Rey following victories against Sevilla FC and Almeria CF respectively.

Benfica went into the Dragao today and took the first leg victory over FC Porto in the fight for the Taca de Portugal Championship, Benfica got two early goals twenty five minutes into the game from Fabio Coentrao and Javi Garcia and held off the league leaders the rest of the way and with one man short after Coentrao was sent off in the 59th minute for the 2-0 victory.

Benfica continued their good form as they defeated Rio Ave in Quarter-Final action in the Taca de Portugal and now advance to take on rivals FC Porto in a home and away encounter with the first leg taking place on February 2nd and the second leg on April 19th.Benfica got two goals from striker Oscar Cardozo with the first coming from the penalty spot in the first half and the second late in

Tamas Priskin scored Ipswich's winner against Arsenal on Wednesday

In yet another week of cup ties in some of Europe's biggest domestic knockout competitions the biggest highlight came at the end of the week with local rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid battling it out in the Copa del Rey.