Primeira Liga 11/12

Don't know how many people here have an interested in the Portuguese League but I'm sure a few members said they wanted to start watching it this season.

Currents Champions are FC Porto, who excelled last season under Andre Villas-Boas and claimed a remarkable treble including European success for the first time since the epic UCL triumph in 2004.

The final table for last season was as follows:

			| Home					| Away
	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	FC Porto	30	14	1	0	43	11	13	2	0	30	5	57	84
2	Benfica	30	11	2	2	36	14	9	1	5	25	17	30	63
3	Sporting CP	30	6	5	4	18	16	7	4	4	23	15	10	48
4	SC Braga	30	9	2	4	28	15	4	5	6	17	18	12	46
5	Vitória Guimarães	30	7	6	2	16	10	5	1	9	20	27	-1	43
6	Nacional	30	7	4	4	14	12	4	5	6	14	19	-3	42
7	Paços de Ferreira	30	6	5	4	20	23	4	6	5	15	19	-7	41
8	Rio Ave	30	6	4	5	17	13	4	4	7	18	20	2	38
9	CS Marítimo	30	5	4	6	14	14	4	4	7	19	18	1	35
10	União de Leiria	30	6	1	8	12	20	3	7	5	13	18	-13	35
11	SC Olhanense	30	4	8	3	16	17	3	5	7	8	17	-10	34
12	Vitória Setubal	30	5	5	5	18	22	3	5	7	11	20	-13	34
13	Beira Mar	30	5	5	5	17	17	2	7	6	15	19	-4	33
14	Académica	30	4	6	5	16	17	3	3	9	16	31	-16	30
15	Portimonense	30	4	3	8	18	24	2	4	9	11	25	-20	25
16	Naval 1º de Maio	30	2	5	8	12	24	3	3	9	14	27	-25	23

Key - Green = CL Group stage, Green = CL qualification rounds, Navy = Europa League Qualification, Red = Relegation.

Leading goalscorers 2010-11:

Hulk	FC Porto	23
Falcao	FC Porto	16
Joao Tomas	Rio Ave	16
Oscar Cardozo	Benfica	12
Baba	Maritimo	11
Silvestre Varela	FC Porto	10
Oscar Cardozo	Benfica	9
Leandro Tatu	Beira-Mar	9
Carlao	U. Leiria	9
Saviola	Benfica	8

	http://www.soccerfame.com/transfer_news/l/portugal/portuguese-liga/p:4 All Primeira Liga transfer news included in the link above.

The biggest entry into Primeira Liga so far this transfer window is former Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel.




http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/more-benfica-news/25487-benfica-tie-up-deal-for-axel-witsel

Porto's fine season last term dramatically augmented Andre Villas-Boas' reputation; so much so that the prodigal Manager broke ties with FC Porto in July following Chelsea's interest, vacancy and willingness to meet his astronomical £13.2M release clause. Because of his success it can be argued that the departure of Villas-Boas from the Treble winners could have more of an impact than the loss of any single Primeira Liga player. That said Fábio Coentrão's sale to Real Madrid from Benfica has undoubtedly left Jorge Jesus with a massive void to fill, such was the quality of the aforementioned full-back last term.

Well this is an interesting league and over here we get some games online at ESPN3.com in English so I like to check them out when I get a chance. I do not know what coverage is like elsewhere but it is a good one. The only bad thing I can say is everyone other than the top four seem to be like garbage to me. Although most 16 team leagues do not have 4 solid teams like how it is in Portugal.

It's good that the league's getting more coverage across the globe, bias aside I think it's very underrated in terms of quality and is often overlooked; needs more followers and hopefully Porto's masterclass last season will draw more viewers in (gloryhunters)

I know what you mean about any side outside of the top 4 usually being mediocre in Primeira Liga but last season Guimarães made strides in terms of overall play and are now a decent team that can be outsiders in the Europa League race next season as long as they bolster their attack.

Marvin thought I was joking, but Olhanense really is my Portuguese team. I don't see them play much much though.

I don't think I'll catch much Portuguese football this season other aside from a couple of derbies.

I see Capdevila was brought in on a free to replace Coentrao perhaps?

alexhamid wrote:I see Capdevila was brought in on a free to replace Coentrao perhaps?

Well done

Cheers boss.

Rei Andros wrote:Marvin thought I was joking, but Olhanense really is my Portuguese team. I don't see them play much much though.

I don't think I'll catch much Portuguese football this season other aside from a couple of derbies.

Thought you were joking too , what made you start following them?
You'll probably enjoy it then because O Clássico rarely disappoints.

alexhamid wrote:I see Capdevila was brought in on a free to replace Coentrao perhaps?

I don't think he'll be anywhere near as effective as Coentrão's system since he's required to support the attacks even more than he did at Villarreal; as he's not getting any younger and doesn't have the same fitness levels as Coentrão it will most likely be too much for him to cover.

Yes, I was going to ask this morning when you were going to make it

I can't wait until next season! I will be in Canada with good internet connection so I will try to catch Porto's games next season.

Sporting for me, makes a chance.

polska. wrote:I can't wait until next season! I will be in Canada with good internet connection so I will try to catch Porto's games next season.

Wait, I thought you said you were going to have poor internet connection in Canada a few days ago??

Ricardo wrote:

Rei Andros wrote:Marvin thought I was joking, but Olhanense really is my Portuguese team. I don't see them play much much though.

I don't think I'll catch much Portuguese football this season other aside from a couple of derbies.

Thought you were joking too , what made you start following them?
You'll probably enjoy it then because O Clássico rarely disappoints.

I started out by rooting for Benfica, then I moved to Porto, and then to Sporting, but none of them stuck. Then two years ago there was a Portuguese podcast I was listening to (sadly defunct now), and they were talking about Olhanense being promoted from the Liga de Honra. Hearing them talk about it caught my interest, plus they had a couple of Portistas on loan (), Ukra, Rabiola, Castro, and a goalkeeper IIRC. I've rooted for them ever since.

Oh, and they had Messi, the Cameroon guy with the awesome name that I can't remember, and Zequinha.

Jean Paul Yontcha's name is legendary

I can't believe you didn't mention Djalmir!

Luís Aguiar is gonna be a beast.

Diego Rubio is gonna exceed beast status. He'll be a fucking monster a few years down the line.

Top 4 predictions?

Sporting bought Diego Rubio? Damn European clubs.

So what does one expect from Portuguese teams in Europe? Nacional is the only team to play a game so far and it seems they struggled with FH in Iceland in the 1st le

Nacional aren't exactly a force

I think Porto will get to the UCL quarter finals, Benfica will probably get out of their group and Sporting have a real shot at the Europa League as well as Benfica will if they finish 3rd in their CL group.

Rei Andros wrote:Sporting bought Diego Rubio? Damn European clubs.

The bastards got him for peanuts as well

I have something that has been bothering me. I know Bruno Alves' brother Julio moved to Atleti, but I'm a bit confused as to what he looks like.

This was the picture I saw first:



But this is the picture that the AP is using:

Spoiler:

Mind = Blown.

He doesn't have an afro these days.

So it is the same person. Damn.

Kleber has already started his domination for Porto. Scored against Penarol in a 3-0 win.

Shit goal but a poacher's goal.

Super Cup Final tommorrow.

Goalkeepers: Helton and Bracali
Defenders: Fucile, Maicon, Otamendi, Rolando, Sapunaru and Sereno
Midfielders: Guarin, Souza, Belluschi, João Moutinho and Ruben Micael
Forwards: Hulk, Falcao, Varela, Djalma and Kleber

I would go for a front three of Kleber, Djalma and Varela tbh. They have been playing pretty well so far.

Kleber and Djalma

Porto is like Bayern, player do good in the league they will quickly put them in their own team.

Sporting should really be reckoned with this season, Jeffren, Capel ( ), van Wolfswinkel, Diego Rubio, Bojinov and Helder Postiga ( ) all signed this summer, possibly Bendtner as well

Also Benfica made a very good signing in Axel Witsel (don't tell polska )

It's probably going to a lot tighter this year with AVB no longer at Porto. I'm not saying his successor will do a bad job, but I doubt he's going to replicate last seasons success. The likes of Benfica, Braga and Sporting Lisbon will be more confident that they have a realistic chance of the title now.

A lot does depend on whether Porto keep their best players though. If they lose the likes of Hulk and Falcao, then they may be in an uphill battle, but if they keep the bulk of their squad together, you'd have to consider them as favourites to retain the title.

Crazy opening match, with Gil Vicente coming from 2-0 down to draw Benfica 2-2.

Highlights and goals:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/6944584/gil_2_2_ben/

SportingCP wrote:Crazy opening match, with Gil Vicente coming from 2-0 down to draw Benfica 2-2.

Highlights and goals:

[url=http://www.metacafe.com/watch/6944584/gil_2_2_ben/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/6944584/gil_2_2_ben/[/quote[/url]]

Very good result.

Welcome to the forum by the way

[quote="Pip"]

SportingCP wrote:Crazy opening match, with Gil Vicente coming from 2-0 down to draw Benfica 2-2.

Highlights and goals:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/6944584/gil_2_2_ben/[/quote]

Very good result.

Welcome to the forum by the way

Thanks.

Tomorrow:

Rio Ave vs Braga and Sporting vs Olhanense

Good chance for us to get an early advantage over one rival.