Portugal. Good period for the Portuguese football, but even at the best times it was a matter of three clubs – and Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, and FC Porto competed with each and nobody else. The picture completely changed in the second level – it was almost another world. Tiny venues, often games played on sand – not on grass. But nothings stopped the game.
Second Division was still divided into 3 zones and the winners were directly promoted. The second-best in each zone competed between themselves for the last promotional spot.
Norte. Nothing much – one team dominated the championship.
Rio Ave had excellent season – they did not lose even a single match! 19 wins and 11 ties, 52-19 goal-difference, 49 points. The nearest pursuer was 7 points behind. Standing from left: Carvalho, Santana, Sérgio, Brito, Duarte. Front: Álvaro, Juanico, Rui Lopes, Pinto, Pires, Alberto. Going back to top level football, but it was eternal struggle – going up, then down, then up again.
Varzim finished 2nd with 42 points and had a chance to get promoted.
Centro. The only competitive second division zone – 3 teams battled for 1st place.
Down the table there was a team with ‘perfect’ record: Mangualde finished 7th with 10 wins, 10 ties, 10 losses, and 33-33 goal-difference.
The three-team race ended somewhat surprising: Feirense missed a step or two and finished 3rd with 40 points. Agueda was 2nd with 42 points and had only to hope for the last qualification spot.
O Elvas clinched the first place with 43 points. Unheard of outside Portugal club, modest and small, which depended on tight defense and eventually won the championship. Getting promoted was perhaps wildest dreams coming true, but the boys made it with 18 wins, 7 ties, 5 losses, 42-15 goal-difference.
Sul. One team dominated, even more so than the winner of Norte.
Silves, 14th with 23 points, was one of the 4 relegated teams. That was Second Division though – playing on something like neighbourhood ground for Sunday kick-abouts, no grass at all. Test of character…
Sacavenense did much better on tough surface – 8th with 29 points.
Uniao Madeira finished 2nd with 39 points. Top position was not up to them at all, but still they got a chance to climb up.
Farense reigned supreme – 21 wins, 5 ties, 4 losses, 59-22 goal-difference and 47 points. Uniao was left 8 points behind. It was great to go back to First Division – at least they will play on grass again, if nothing else.
Varzim won the last promotion – for them, it was a rollercoster: one year in second division, then in the first, then again in second… the same on, and on, and on.