CD Nacional vs CF Estrela da Amadora

Nacional gave their survival hopes a much-needed shot in the arm with a 2-0 victory over Estrela da Amadora at the Estádio da Madeira. Jesús Ramírez set the tone inside two minutes with an early opener that rocked the visitors before they could settle. Estrela saw plenty of the ball but created little, failing to register a single shot on target all afternoon. A VAR review for a potential penalty in the 17th minute came to nothing, summing up a frustrating day for the visitors. Paulinho put the result beyond doubt on 71 minutes, doubling the lead and sparking relief among the 2,099 home faithful. The closing stages turned scrappy with seven yellow cards dished out, but Nacional held firm. The three points lift Nacional to 25 points in 15th, still deep in the relegation scrap but now with daylight over the drop zone. Estrela remain 13th on 28 points and will rue a toothless display on the island.