Portugal – ranked 9th. One of the greatest seasons on international club level, but domestically perhaps the messy increase of the top league was the most intriguing event. The championship was dominated by two teams and behind them another two were stronger than the rest of the league. In view of that, making the top division larger hardly made any sense. However, it was going to be 20-team strong in the next season and seemingly the decision for that was taken quite late – normally, the last three teams were relegated directly to second level and the 13th went to promotion/relegation tournament with the 3 second-placed teams from the Second Division groups and the winner in it was going to play top-league football. The 13th went to this tournament, but those at the last three positions stayed in the league – in order of increasing the First Division to 20 teams, there was no relegation. Thus, weirdly, the team above direct relegation zone was the only one in danger of going down this season.
Second Division. The usual 3 groups, winners promoted, second-place teams going to promotion/relegation tournament.
Zona Norte. The usual mix of former top-league members and little known teams.
Freamunde – one of the clubs never going higher then second level. 8th with 30 points.
Gil Vicente – 3rd with 34 points. Unable to return to top league football.
Penafiel – 2nd with 37 points and going to promotion/relegation tournament.
SC Espinho – won the group with 40 points and directly promoted. 16 wins, 8 ties, 6 losses, 52-20 goal-difference.
Zona Centro.
Est. Portalegre – 13th with 27 points.
AC Marinhense – 7th with 31 points.
Feirense – 2nd and going to promotion/relegation tournament with 37 points.
Sporting Covilha – had no rivals and won the group with 45 points. 18 wins, 9 ties, 3 lost games, 40-17 goal-difference. This was great season for Covliha – not only promoted up, but champions of Second Division too – they won the tournament of the group champions after the season.
Zona Sul. The leaders were hardly challenged in any group, but here the top team was most dominant.
Uniao Madeira – 8th with 30 points.
Olhanense – 5th with 34 points.
Estrella Amadora – 2nd with 39 points and going to the promotion/relegation tournament.
Vitoria Setubal – very strong and winning the group with 48 points. 21 wins, 6 ties, 3 losses, 57-16 goal-difference. Return to First Division was the aim and was achieved. Vitoria – by name and regular season performance – should have been the champion of Second Division and they tried, but in the mini-tournament of zonal champions they lost to Sporting Covilha – on worse head-to-head results.
The tournament of champions: Espinho took the last place with 2 points: 1 win, 3 losses, 6-8. Vitoria Setubal had the best numbers, but if goal-difference counted: 2 wins, 1 tie, 1 loss, 10-8, 5 points.
Same points for Sporting Covilha – 2 wins, 1 tie, 1 loss, 5-5 goal-difference, but better head-to-head record against Vitoria made the Second Division champions.
With zonal champions going up, the promotion/relegation tournament was slightly revised in order of completing the new 20-team First Division: the top 2 teams in it were going to play top league.
Estrella Amadora (Zona Sul) was the weakest now – last with 2 points. 1 win, 5 losses, 5-9.
Feirense (Zona Centro) ended 3rd with 4 points – 1 win, 2 ties, 3 losses, 4-9.
Penafiel (Zona Norte) won 3 games, tied 1 and lost 2. 7-7 goal-difference and 7 points. Unable to win the tournament, but strong second and thus promoted. Mission accomplished – back to First Division.
Rio Ave (13th in First Division) was way too strong for second-level clubs – they won 5 games and tied 1. 11-2 goal-difference and 11 points. Frankly, it was only fair – Rio Ave was the only top-league team in danger of relegation and they finished above direct relegation zone. If the weakest were saved by fiat, why Rio Ave should go down? But they strong enough and avoided the risk.
So: going to play in the 20-team First Division – Sporting Covilha, Vitoria Setubal, SC Espinho, and Penafiel.
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