EuroFootball.com continues its reviews of European football leagues. This time, the Portuguese "Primeira Liga" championships, where fourteen rounds have been played so far, will be reviewed. Who is in the running for the Champions title in Portugal, which players shine the most in the championship, and who has been the biggest disappointment - in this review.
Leaders: "Porto"
The "Porto" team has not yet suffered a defeat in Portugal this season and after fourteen rounds has collected 36 points, leading the "Primeira Liga" championships. The performance of the team's newcomer Iker Casillas is particularly impressive. The 34-year-old goalkeeper, who came from "Real," has not conceded a single goal in eight out of fourteen matches this season in Portugal, and at one point had a streak of 460 minutes without conceding a goal in the "Primeira Liga" championship.
Other title contenders: "Sporting" and "Benfica"
Until the last round, "Sporting" in Portugal looked even more impressive than the "Porto" team, and only an unexpected 0-1 defeat to "Uniao Madeira" prevented them from holding the top spot in the league table. The team, which has not fought for the title since the 2001-2002 season, seems strong this year and ready to do everything to end this unpleasant and long period without a "Primeira Liga" title.
In the worst position among the leading teams at the moment are the current country champions, the players of "Benfica." Having lost many leaders after the last season, the team has problems playing against their main competitors - they have lost to both "Porto" and "Sporting" teams. When playing against other teams, "Benfica" rarely faces serious challenges, and they usually win by more than a two-goal difference.
Most surprising team: "Vitoria Setubal"
After finishing fifteenth last year, the "Vitoria Setubal" team is currently in fifth place and seriously competing for a spot in next year's Europa League. After a very unsuccessful last season, the team decided to make serious changes and it seems to have paid off. Both the new coach Quique Machado and the nineteen new players registered in the first team have not disappointed the team management, and if the club finishes in fifth place at the end of the season, the "Vitoria Setubal" season should be appreciated with the highest ratings.
Most productive player: Jonas
A couple of years ago, "Valencia" didn't need Jonas, but he caught the attention of the "Benfica" team, and he certainly didn't disappoint. The striker, released from the Spanish club, scored 20 goals last season, and this year he has scored thirteen goals in fourteen matches, already surpassing his closest competitor by five goals. The 31-year-old Brazilian also managed to make seven assists, contributing directly to 20 out of 34 "Benfica" goals in the "Primeira Liga" championships.
Disappointment: Giannelli Imbula
The most expensive signing of the summer season, Gianneli Imbula, has not yet demonstrated what was expected of him. The €20 million defender for "Porto" not only did not score any goals this season and made only one assist, but recently he has struggled to find his way into the main team. In the last six matches, Imbula started once and was substituted, once he spent seventeen minutes on the pitch, and in four other games he couldn't even make it into the list of registered players for the match. The Frenchman will have to significantly improve his performances in the remaining part of the season in order to justify the title of the most expensive summer signing in the Portuguese league.
Portuguese championship tournament table:
Tautvydas Sakalauskas
