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After nearly 9 months, the 2020/21 Liga NOS season has come to a close.
Man, what a season. It was a season of great success for some - whether it was Sporting becoming champions for the first time since 2002 or Santa Clara qualifying for European competitions for the first time in the 100-year history of the club. It was also a season of great disappointment for others - whether it was Benfica finishing third after spending over 100 million euros this summer or Rio Ave being relegated by FC Arouca in a relegation playoff after being just minutes away from eliminating AC Milan from the Europa League.
Just before the season began, I had made my predictions for how the season would play out in Liga NOS and who the most impactful players would be for each squad. After early European exits, COVID-stricken rosters, and some interesting managerial changes over 34 matchdays, this is how the table shook out.
1st - Sporting Clube de Portugal (85 points)
*Qualified for Champions League Group Stage
2019/20 League Finish: 4th place (60 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 4th place (would qualify for Europa League)
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Matchday 16 (Home x Benfica): Won 1-0 | Matchday 33 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 4-3
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2020/21 Team MVP: Sebastián Coates
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 26 - Pedro “Pote” Gonçalves
Other Notable Performers: João Palhinha, Pedro Porro, Nuno Mendes, Antonio Adán
The "Estrelinha" that Sporting fans have been chasing for the last nineteen years finally avoided burning out this season, thanks to the tremendous work of former Benfica midfielder Rúben Amorim and his staff. After being knocked out early from European competitions by LASK in the Europa League qualifiers, Sporting was able to place their focus on domestic competitions, winning the Taça de Liga and later on, the Primeira Liga.
After their Matchday 6 victory over Tondela, Uruguayan international and team captain Sebastian Coates saw Sporting take control of first place in the Liga - and they never looked back, leading the competition every week thereafter. Throughout the season, Sporting relied on the solid defense of Coates and outside backs, Nuno Mendes (1st full season with the First Team) and Pedro Porro (on loan from Manchester City). Sporting only conceded 20 goals, the fewest of any team in Liga NOS, and that was also due to the consistent goalkeeping of former Atlético Madrid man Antonio Adán, who was signed on a free transfer just before the start of the season.
Sporting fans had a pleasant surprise offensively this year, with Pedro "Pote" Gonçalves drawing comparisons to Bruno Fernandes on his way to winning the Golden Boot with 23 goals - the first time a Portuguese-born player had won the award in 25 years. However, the title run would not have been possible without the clutch offensive performances of center back Sebastian Coates, whose last-minute goals powered many a Sporting comeback this season. All in all, Os Leões were deserving winners of the title and seeing eight academy prospects make their first-team debut under Amorim has given Sporting fans hope for the future.
2nd - FC Porto (80 points)
*Qualified for Champions League Group Stage
2019/20 League Finish: 1st place (82 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 2nd place (would qualify for Champions League group stage)
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Matchday 14 (Home x Benfica): Drew 1-1 | Matchday 31 (Away @ Benfica): Drew 1-1
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2020/21 Team MVP: Sérgio Oliveira
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 27 - Mehdi Taremi
Other Notable Performers: Otávio, Pepe
Coming into this season, FC Porto was riding high after winning the domestic double,"a Dobradinha," as they call it. By the end of the summer transfer window, manager Sérgio Conceição saw his team lose big names like Alex Telles, Danilo Pereira, Fábio Silva, and Vitinha. This year's squad had potential to repeat as champions, but disappointing performances from Luis Diaz, Moussa Marega, and Jesus Corona, among others, led to the team falling just short.
Aside from their 2-0 Supertaça win over Benfica, Os Dragões had a rather disappointing domestic season. If not for the breakthrough season from Sérgio Oliveira and the defensive masterclass of Pepe, FC Porto may have even slipped out of the Top 3. The club saw itself awarded 16 penalties over 34 Liga matches, with Sérgio Oliveira scoring 7 of his 8 penalty attempts. Iranian international Mehdi Taremi won quite a few of those penalties and was involved in over one-third (1/3) of the team's 74 goals this season - the most of any club in Liga NOS.
In terms of international competitions, the club was extremely successful - making it all the way to the Champions League Quarter-finals after beating Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus in the Round of 16. Otávio, Pepe, and Sérgio Oliveira led that charge for FC Porto, showing the ferocity and passion that has made the club so well-known across Europe.
3rd - Sport Lisboa e Benfica (76 points)
*Qualified for Champions League Third Qualifying Round
2019/20 League Finish: 2nd place (77 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 1st place (would qualify for Champions League group stage)
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2020/21 Team MVP: Nicolás Otamendi
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 29 - Haris Seferovic
Other Notable Performers: Julian Weigl, Diogo Gonçalves, Helton Leite
I could spend days discussing the disappointment of this season for Benfica (and in fact, I likely will), but their season can be summarized by this: "Cem milhões, sem títulos." Or, translated to English:"100 million, 0 titles."
Over the course of the season, Benfica was knocked out of each competition it participated in - starting with the 2-1 Champions League 3rd Round Qualifying loss to PAOK in September and culminating with their 2-0 Taça de Portugal final loss to Sporting Braga earlier this month. The club faced an onslaught of COVID-19 cases during the middle of the season, which led to their elimination from the Taça de Liga. In the Europa League, the club saw its European title hopes get crushed by Arsenal in the Round of 32.
Jorge Jesus saw his squad struggle offensively for much of the season, with Haris Seferovic scoring 22 goals and missing 21 big scoring chances in the Liga. Newcomers Everton, Darwin, and Luca Waldschmidt all shined at points, but ultimately were large disappointments for Os Encarnados this season. On the flip side, defensive stability arrived in the form of Julian Weigl, Lucas Veríssimo, Jan Vertonghen, and Nico Otamendi during the second half of the season as Benfica conceded only 11 goals in their last 17 Liga matches. Center back Nicolás Otamendi had a very rocky start to the season, but he wore the armband 13 times and became the strong captain that the team needed down the stretch.
There were a few silving linings for Benfiquistas this season, though. The André Almeida knee injury and the ensuing Gilberto disaster at right back saw Seixal product Diogo Gonçalves cement his place in the squad, having returned to the club after being loaned out to Famalicão last season. Jorge Jesus' displeasure with starting goalie Odysseas Vlachodimos also led to Helton Leite picking up 8 clean sheets from his 15 Liga starts in his first season with Benfica after arriving from Boavista last summer. Although he was not given many opportunities, Gonçalo Ramos showcased his clinical finishing abilities with 2 goals in just 4 substitute appearances this season.
This summer should be very interesting for the club, as fans call for the resignation of manager Jorge Jesus' and the sale of constants at the club, like Pizzi, Gabriel, and Taarabt.
4th - Sporting Clube de Braga (64 points)
*Qualified for Europa League Group Stage
2019/20 League Finish: 3rd place (60 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 3rd place (qualify for Champions League qualifying stage)
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Matchday 7 (Away @ Benfica): Won 3-2 | Matchday 24 (Home x Benfica): Lost 2-0
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2020/21 Team MVP: Mutassim Al-Musrati
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 12 - Ricardo Horta
Other Notable Performers: Lucas Piazón, Wenderson Galeno, Ricardo Esgaio
For the better half of a decade, Braga has been constantly knocking on the door of Portugal's historic 'Big 3' (Benfica, FC Porto, Sporting) to compete for the league title - a feat the club has yet to accomplish. Manager Carlos Carvalhal's squad were still in the title race at the halfway point of the season, which saw them in 3rd place and only three points behind FC Porto, who were in 2nd place with 39 points at that time.
The squad was playing the most beautiful team football in Portugal for the first half of the season, during which Ricardo Horta made 8 of his 12 goal contributions. Braga also saw solid performances from Ricardo Esgaio, Wenderson Galeno and Lybian midfielder Mutassim Al-Musrati during that stretch. The best player for Os Minhotos was midfielder Iuri Medeiros until he injured himself in a 2-1 Taça de Portugal Quarter-final victory over Santa Clara in January.
The club made Portugal proud in Europe, clawing tooth and nail against the likes of Leicester City and Roma before their exit to the latter in the Round of 32. Forward Lucas Piazón put together a string of impressive performances in the Liga around the time of their Europa League losses to Roma. The season ended on a high note for the Guerreiros, as they defeated Benfica 2-0 in the Taça de Portugal final in Coimbra on goals from Piazón and Ricardo Horta.
5th - FC Paços de Ferreira (53 points)
*Qualified for UEFA Conference League 2nd Round Qualifiers
2019/20 League Finish: 13th place (39 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 12th place
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Matchday 9 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 2-1 | Matchday 26 (Home x Benfica): Lost 5-0
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2020/21 Team MVP: Bruno Costa
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 11 - Douglas Tanque
Other Notable Performers: Luther Singh, Stephen Eustáquio
If you had told anyone at the beginning of the season that Paços de Ferreira would qualify for European football, they would have called you crazy. To be fair, they had a point: Pepa was in his second year at the helm of the squad and his team had no stars to rely on for when the lights shined brightest. Nonetheless, they proved everyone wrong with the club ending the first half of the season even on points with Benfica at 34, tied for fourth place.
The arrival of Bruno Costa on loan from Portimonense was fundamental to the team's success, as he partnered with Canadian international Stephen Eustáquio in the central midfield. The duo helped Paços' defense concede 11 fewer goals than last season. On the offensive front, Douglas Tanque and winger Luther Singh were involved in 11 and 10 goals, respectively.
Let's hope that Pepa leaving to manage Vítoria SC and Bruno Costa returning to Portimonense won't cause Paços to follow Rio Ave's downward spiral next season.
6th - CD Santa Clara (46 points)
*Qualified for UEFA Conference League 2nd Round Qualifiers
2019/20 League Finish: 9th place (43 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 11th place
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Matchday 12 (Home x Benfica): Drew 1-1 | Matchday 29 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 2-1
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2020/21 Team MVP: Carlos Junior
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 18 - Carlos Junior
Other Notable Performers: Lincoln, Fabio Cardoso, Crysan
There was no better gift for the Azorean club during its 100-year anniversary than qualifying for European football for the first time in their history. And it came down to the very last matchday. With three matches left, Santa Clara found themselves 6 points away from finishing sixth and having the chance to qualify for UEFA's newest club competition, the Conference League. Forward Carlos Junior scored four goals in those last three games to make the dreams of Os Bravos Açorianos a reality. Captain Fabio Cardoso added 3 clutch goals and was a commanding force for the Santa Clara back line over the course of the season. (We're all rooting for them to qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Conference League so we can see them battle clubs like Tottenham and Roma on the island of São Miguel.)
7th - Vítoria SC (43 points)
2019/20 League Finish: 7th place (50 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 5th place (would qualify them for Europa League)
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Matchday 17 (Away @ Benfica): Drew 0-0 | Matchday 34 (Home x Benfica): Lost 3-1
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2020/21 Team MVP: Ricardo Quaresma
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 11 - Rochinha
Other Notable Performers: Óscar Estupiñán, Falaye Sacko
The fans in Guimarães were among the most disappointed in all of Portugal this season, and they had every right to be. Talented wingers Marcus Edwards and Ricardo Quaresma were supposed to lead Vitória back to the Europa League after failing to qualifying for the competition last year. Quaresma and right back Falaye Sacko brought the consistency that the team needed from them, but Edwards largely disappeared this season, leaving Rochinha and Óscar Estupiñán to pick up the slack. Estupiñán's season debut came in December, but he scored 8 goals in only 23 matches, which left many fans wondering "what if."
Vitória picked up only 13 points in their last 17 matches, leading to a series of managerial changes and no stability for a lineup that desperately needed it. The team had four managers over the course of the season. Last week, former Paços manager Pepa was named as their 6th manager in 12 months - the most of any club in Portugal over that timeframe.
8th - Moreirense FC (43 points)
2019/20 League Finish: 8th place (43 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 10th place
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Matchday 2 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 2-0 | Matchday 19 (Home x Benfica): Drew 1-1
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2020/21 Team MVP: Fábio Pacheco
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 8 - Rafael Martins
Other Notable Performers: Mateus Pasinato, Yan Santos
This Moreirense squad started off the season strong, with 4 points in their first three matches before the summer transfer window closed and they lost one of their biggest pieces. Fabio Abreu, Moreirense's leading scorer from last season, scored twice in those first 3 matches before he was sold to Saudi Arabian club Al-Batin for $2.5 million. The rest of the season saw the team look for a solution to their scoring troubles, which instead came in the form of timely saves from goalie Mateus Pasinato to keep them in the race for the top half of the table this year.
9th - FC Famalicão (40 points)
2019/20 League Finish: 6th place (54 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 7th place
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Matchday 1 (Home x Benfica): Lost 5-1 | Matchday 28 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 2-0
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2020/21 Team MVP: Ivo Vieira (Manager)
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 8 - Ivo Rodrigues
Other Notable Performers: Rúben Vinagre, Manuel Ugarte, Pêpê
Last season, agent Jorge Mendes helped put together a newly promoted Famalicão side that punched well above their weight in Liga NOS. This season, Famalicão found themselves looking at a return to the second division before former Vítoria manager Ivo Vieira saved them. When Ivo took over on Matchday 22, they were in 16th place on 19 points - 1 point away from guaranteed relegation - and they still had matches remaining against the entire top of the table (except Benfica).
Vieira had them playing as a team, with a midfield duo of Manuel Ugarte and Pêpê leading them on the way to 11 points and a finish in the top half of the table. Wolverhampton loaned outside back Rúben Vinagre to the club in January, and he put together a handful of very impressive performances after his arrival. With Ivo Vieira, this club is in great hands.
10th - Belenenses SAD (40 points)
2019/20 League Finish: 15th place (35 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 17th place (Relegated to Segunda Liga)
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Matchday 5 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 2-0 | Matchday 22 (Home x Benfica): Lost 3-0
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2020/21 Team MVP: Tiago Esgaio
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 11 - Mateo Cassierra
Other Notable Performers: Rúben Lima, Miguel Cardoso, Stanislav Kritsyuk
As much as many Primeira Liga fans wanted to see B-SAD relegated, Petit managed his team to a deserving 10th place finish. The former Benfica & Seleção midfielder has quite the reputation for avoiding relegation as a manager, and looking at their offense (which was tied for the lowest scoring side in the Liga), you'd assume that he was a cellar dweller again this season. However, on the back of solid defense from goalie Stanislav Kritsyuk and wingbacks Tiago Esgaio and Rúben Lima, the club only conceded 35 goals - the lowest of any club outside of the Top 4. The club made its fans (the few they still have) very proud, with a run to the Taça de Portugal Quarter-final and some great Liga showings against Sporting & Porto.
11th - Gil Vicente FC (39 points)
2019/20 League Finish: 10th place (43 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 13th place
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Matchday 10 (Home x Benfica): Lost 2-0 | Matchday 27 (Away @ Benfica): Won 2-1
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2020/21 Team MVP: Talocha
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 10 - Samuel Lino
Other Notable Performers: Lucas Mineiro, Rodrigão Prado, Lourency
Gil Vicente's goal this season was just to maintain their spot in the Primeira Liga, and they succeeded in that respect. The club's offensive output was disappointing, scoring seven less goals than last season and relying instead on clutch individual performances from Samuel Lino, Lucas Mineiro, and others down the stretch. Talocha and Rodrigão Prado helped secure 5 clean sheets on the road for Gil on their way to securing the fifth-best away record in Liga NOS.
12th - CD Tondela (36 points)
2019/20 League Finish: 14th place (36 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 14th place
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Matchday 13 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 2-0 | Matchday 30 (Home x Benfica): Lost 2-0
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2020/21 Team MVP: Mario González
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 17 - Mario González
Other Notable Performers: Salvador Agra, Yohan Tavares
Tondela fans should feel bittersweet about their mid-table finish this season. Coming into the season, the club desperately needed a striker and brought in Mario González on loan from La Liga side Villareal over the summer. The Spanish striker put on an absolute masterclass on his way to scoring 15 goals - the most for a non-Top 3 player in Liga NOS. Yohan Tavares was a defensive strong point for the club, but João Pedro was very disappointing after a great season last year. Overall, the team's final place in the standing is just - but it's crazy to think about "what could have been" if González was given any help.
13th - Boavista FC (36 points)
2019/20 League Finish: 12th place (39 points) 2020/21 Projected Finish: 6th place
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Matchday 6 (Home x Benfica): Won 3-0 | Matchday 23 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 2-0
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2020/21 Team MVP: Angel Gomes
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 14 - Alberth Elis
Other Notable Performers: Yanis Hamache, Gustavo Sauer
Outside of Benfica, Boavista was the club I was most excited to watch coming into this season. Their roster was young and talented, featuring Angel Gomes & Léo Jardim on loan from Lille, along with young American right back Reggie Cannon from FC Dallas in the MLS. However, Boavista saw most of their dropped points escape them in the last 10 minutes of many matches, placing themselves in the relegation fight for the entire season.
Boavista picked up their first points on Matchday 6 on their way to a mere 14 points during the 'Primeira Volta," which saw Reggie Cannon and the defense struggle. However, the second half of the season was much better for Cannon and 'Os Axadrezados.' Throughout the year, Angel Gomes contributed 6 goals and 3 assists on a team that saw former Houston Dynamo forward Alberth Elis catch fire at the end of the season when they needed it most.
14th - Portimonense SC (35 points)
2019/20 League Finish: 17th place (33 points) - Avoided regulation due to league ruling
2020/21 Projected Finish: 16th place (Relegation playoff match)
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Matchday 11 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 2-1 | Matchday 28 (Home x Benfica): Lost 5-1
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2020/21 Team MVP: Beto
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 13 - Beto
Other Notable Performers: Maurício Antônio, Dener
Losing Bruno Tabata to Sporting CP at the beginning of the season was not ideal for Portimonense, who avoided relegation last season due to the financial issues of Vitória de Setúbal. Tabata's injury-plagued season with Sporting was quickly forgotten, as forward Beto scored against Benfica and FC Porto on his way to 11 Liga NOS goals. Beto was the best player on the club that clinched safety on the last day of the season, with a 0-0 draw with SC Braga. Due to the club's close relationship with FC Porto, he'll likely make his way up north for next season and join Sérgio Conceição's squad.
15th - CS Marítimo (35 points)
2019/20 League Finish: 11th place (39 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 9th place
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Matchday 8 (Home x Benfica): Lost 2-1 | Matchday 25 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 1-0
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2020/21 Team MVP: Zainadine Júnior
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 11 - Joel Tagueu
Other Notable Performers: Rodrigo Pinho, Amir Abedzadeh
Marítimo were made victim of the Big 3's seemingly endless talent grab over Liga NOS this season when FC Porto bought speedy defender Nanu after he scored what proved to be the winning goal against Os Dragões on Matchday 3. Nevertheless, central defender Zainadine Júnior and keeper Amir Abedzadeh helped lock down a Marítimo backline that secured 10 clean sheets for the second season in a row and knocked out Sporting CP from the Taça de Portugal.
Striker Rodrigo Pinho was off to a strong start before picking up a knee injury at the beginning of the new year. He ended up tied with Joel Tagueu with 9 goals as the team's leading scorer at the season's end.
16th - Rio Ave FC (34 points)
*Relegated by Arouca (5-0 on aggregate) in Relegation Playoff
2019/20 League Finish: 5th place (55 points)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 8th place
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Matchday 4 (Home x Benfica): Lost 3-0 | Matchday 21 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 2-0
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2020/21 Team MVP: Aderllan Santos
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 8 - Tied: Gelson Dala & Carlos Mané
Other Notable Performers: Filipe Augusto
My father always said that being a fan of sport is tough because you experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Nothing truer can be said for Rio Ave fans this season. In October, the club was 2 minutes away from knocking out AC Milan from the Europa League qualifiers before a last-minute penalty kick and the ensuing 9-round penalty shootout saw their exit from the competition. The club found itself in the bottom half of the table for most of the season, as the team's inability to score was tied for the worst in Liga NOS (25 goals scored) and the relegation battle became a reality. Gelson Dala, in particular, was disappointing and failed to score in the club's embarassing 5-0 loss in the two-leg relegation/promotion playoff to FC Arouca, who finished third in the Segunda Liga and will compete in the Primeira Liga next season for the first time in 5 seasons.
17th - SC Farense (31 points)
*Relegated directly to the Segunda Liga
2019/20 League Finish: 2nd Place in 2nd Division (Promoted to Liga NOS)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 15th place
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Matchday 3 (Away @ Benfica): Lost 3-2 | Matchday 20 (Home x Benfica): Drew 0-0
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2020/21 Team MVP: Ryan Gauld
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 16 - Ryan Gauld
Other Notable Performers: Pedro Henrique
Affectionately known by many on Twitter as "the Scottish Messi," Ryan Gauld was a diamond in the rough for a Farense side that saw its stay in the Primeira Liga cut short largely due to poor defense. Gauld has a real chance to make the Liga NOS Team of the Season, even after being snubbed by Scotland for the Euros next month. Farense picked up their first clean sheet in over a calendar year against Benfica on Matchday 20, and followed it up with 5 more clean sheets throughout the rest of the season. However, that was not enough to avoid relegation on the last day of the season. Benfica loanee Tomás Tavares gained some valuable experience with the team from the Algarve, starting in all 18 matches he played after arriving on loan in January.
18th - CD Nacional (25 points)
*Relegated directly to the Segunda Liga
2019/20 League Finish: 1st Place in 2nd Division (Promoted to Liga NOS)
2020/21 Projected Finish: 18th place (Relegated to Segunda Liga)
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Matchday 15 (Away @ Benfica): Drew 1-1 | Matchday 32 (Home x Benfica): Lost 3-1
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2020/21 Team MVP: João Vigário
Biggest Contributor (Goals & Assists): 8 - Brayan Riascos
Other Notable Performers: João Camacho
"Oftentimes, teams that are promoted do not have the intensity, the squad depth, or the financial power. This will likely be the case with CD Nacional."
This is an excerpt from my season preview back in September, and that was the case for the club from Madeira Island this year. Forwards Brayan Riascos and Bryan Rochez both missed more big chances than they scored, which threw away the only saving grace that this side had in its hopes to survive in the highest tier of Portuguese football. At the season's halfway point, Nacional found themselves in 9th place on 18 points...needless to say, it was a rough Segunda Volta for them. On the defensive end, the club conceded 59 goals, the most in Liga NOS, in a season where Benfiquistas will remember the club's unwillingness to postpone their Matchday 15 encounter due to massive COVID cases in the Benfica locker room. Have fun in the Segunda Liga and Até Nunca!
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It was a fun season, and it'll be exciting to see what Estoril Praia, FC Vizela, and FC Arouca are able to do in the Primeira Liga during the 2021/2022 season! Until then, Força Portugal at the Euros!!!
Gutted about Benfica but what a wild season. All over the map from top of the table to the bottom, surprises everywhere.