First Division. The planned increase of the Portuguese top league benefited one team this season – because only 2 teams were relegated, 18th place was safe spot for the moment. As for greater benefits… what benefits? Two teams dominated the championship. Bellow the leaders two other teams were way stronger than the rest of the league, yet, way weaker than the leaders. This configuration was traditional , no matter how many teams played in First Division. More teams hardly ever translate into more competitive championships.
Feirense – last with 20 points and relegated. Pretty much as expected.
Portimonense – 17th with 21 points. Their 3 Bulgarians did not save the club from relegation.
Uniao Madeira survived – 16th with 24 points.
Penafiel – 15th with 26 points.
Nacional – 14th with 28 points.
Estrela Amadora – 13th with 28 points. Nothing much in the league, as usual, but this was also their greatest season.
Sporting Braga – 12th with 28 points.
Beira Mar – 11th with 29 points.
Maritimo – 10th with 29 points.
Tirsense – 9th with 30 points. Strong season for them, even surprisingly strong.
Boavista – 8th with 34 points.
Vitoria Setubal – 7th with 36 points.
Belenenses – 6th with 36 points.
Chaves – 5th with 38 points. Strong season for them, yet, unable to challenge the strongest.
Vitoria Guimaraes – 4th with 45 points. Not concerned with the bulk of the league, but fighting only for bronze medals, eventually losing the battle.
Sporting Lisbon clinched 3rd place with 46 points. More than that was not up to them.
And finally the two leaders – the usual suspects Benfica and FC Porto. The rest of the league was only point-providers, the top teams were way above the rest.
Benfica lost only 2 games and scored most goals this season – 76 – but they lost the battle, finishing with 55 points. 9 points ahead of their city rivals Sporting, but not the real enemy was from another city and Benfica was unable to beat it.
FC Porto was really flying this season: 27 wins, 5 ties, only 2 lost games, 72-16 scoring record and 59 points at the end – 4 more than Benfica, the rest of the league did not even count. Already famous coach, wonderful squad, more perspective than Benfica’s – FC Porto established itself not just as leading Portuguese clubs, but as one of the top European clubs.
Not a squad to be taken lightly, combining talent with experience, combining worthy veterans with bright young talent. Not only they left Benfica behind, but looked like Benfica will stay behind FC Porto in the 1990s. As for the record, they won their 11th title.
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