Portuguese Liga
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For current news on this topic, see 2006-07 in Portuguese football |
| Portuguese Liga | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Sport | Football |
| Founded | 1938 |
| No. of teams | 16 |
| Country |  Portugal |
| Current champions | F.C. Porto |
The Portuguese Liga (pron. IPA: ['liɣɐ]), currently named bwinLIGA after its main sponsor, is the league competition for Portuguese professional football clubs located at the top of the Portuguese football league system (above the Liga de Honra), making it Portugal's primary football competition.
The Liga is presently contested by sixteen clubs each season, but only five of them have won the title. Currently in its 73rd edition the competition is dominated by the so called "big three" (S.L. Benfica, F.C. Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal), who have a total of 70 titles, with C.F. Os Belenenses and Boavista F.C. sharing the other two.
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[edit] History
Before the Portuguese football reform of 1938, an experimental competition on a round-basis was already being held — the Primeira Liga (Premier League). Despite that, a Portuguese Championship in a knock-out cup format was the most popular and defined the champion.
Then, with the reform, a round-basis competition was implemented as the most important of the calendar and began defining the Portuguese champion. From 1938 to 2000 the name Campeonato Nacional da Primeira Divisão (National Championship of the First Division), or just Primeira Divisão (First Division) was used. When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide leagues in 1999 it was renamed Campeonato Nacional da Primeira Liga (Premier League National Championship), or simply Primeira Liga (Premier League), and after Galp acquired the naming rights in 2002, SuperLiga Galp Energia. However a four year deal with the Austrian sports betting web portal betandwin.com was announced on 18 August 2005, amid questioning by the other gambling authorities in Portugal (the Santa Casa da Misericórdia and the Portuguese Casinos Association), which claimed to hold the exclusive of legal gambling games in national territory. After holding the name Liga betandwin.com for the 2005/2006 season [1], a name change to BWINLIGA (all caps) was announced on 21 July 2006 [2].
[edit] Competition
For the 2006-07 season there are 16 clubs in the Portuguese Liga, down from 18 in the previous season. During the course of a season each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at their opponent's, for a total of 30 games. At the end of each season, the two lowest placed teams are relegated to the Liga de Honra, and the top two teams from Liga de Honra are promoted to the Portuguese Liga.
Currently, the top three teams in the Liga qualify for the UEFA Champions League. The top two teams go straight into the group phase. The third placed team enters the competition at the third qualifying round, and must survive a two-legged knockout tie in order to enter the group phase. The teams classified in fourth and fifth enter the UEFA Cup together with the winner of the Cup of Portugal. If the winner of the Cup of Portugal is already qualified for the Champions League, or would be qualified for the UEFA Cup by its league position, the runner-up will occupy the spot in the UEFA Cup. If the runner-up is also qualified for European competition through its league position, the spot is given to the 6th-placed team in the Liga.
[edit] Portuguese Liga clubs
- Associação Académica de Coimbra
- Sport Clube Beira-Mar
- Clube de Futebol «Os Belenenses»
- Sport Lisboa e Benfica
- Boavista Futebol Clube
- Sporting Clube de Braga
- Clube de Futebol Estrela da Amadora
- Clube Desportivo das Aves
- Clube Desportivo Nacional "da Madeira"
- Club Sport Marítimo
- Associação Naval 1º de Maio
- Futebol Clube Paços de Ferreira
- Futebol Clube do Porto
- Sporting Clube de Portugal "Lisbon"
- União Desportiva de Leiria
- Vitória Futebol Clube "de Setúbal"
[edit] UEFA Ranking
Current National League Ranking
- 01
La Liga - 02
Serie A - 03
FA Premier League - 04
Ligue 1 - 05
Bundesliga - 06 Liga
- 07
Eredivisie
(see UEFA coefficients full list for more information)
[edit] 06/07 season current league table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
| 1 | F.C. Porto | 22 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 46 | 12 | 34 | 52 |
| 2 | S.L. Benfica | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 43 | 15 | 28 | 51 |
| 3 | Sporting Clube de Portugal | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 33 | 13 | 20 | 46 |
| 4 | S.C. Braga | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 28 | 26 | 2 | 35 |
| 5 | C.F "Os Beleneneses" | 22 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 20 | 5 | 34 |
| 6 | F.C. Paços de Ferreira | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 24 | 28 | -4 | 32 |
| 7 | C.D. Nacional | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 32 | 28 | 4 | 31 |
| 8 | U.D. Leiria | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 21 | -4 | 30 |
| 9 | C.S. Marítimo | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 26 | 29 | -3 | 29 |
| 10 | A. Naval 1º de Maio | 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 22 | 24 | -2 | 28 |
| 11 | Boavista F.C. | 22 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 23 | 25 | -2 | 25 |
| 12 | C.F. Estrela da Amadora | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 24 |
| 13 | A. Académica de Coimbra | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 23 | 36 | -13 | 20 |
| 14 | Vitória F.C. | 22 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 31 | -18 | 16 |
| 15 | S.C. Beira-Mar | 22 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 21 | 43 | -22 | 15 |
| 16 | C.D. Aves | 22 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 29 | -15 | 13 |
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points. Blue = teams qualified for UEFA Champions League; Green = UEFA Cup; Red, teams relegated
[edit] Continental Honours by Liga Players
- 1966 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe Eusébio
- Most caps for
Morocco national football team Noureddine Naybet Played with Sporting CP 115 Caps
- Most caps for Portugal national football team Luís Figo Played with Sporting CP 129 Caps
[edit] List of champions
[edit] Total number of titles through time
[edit] Top Scorers
[edit] Participating Clubs
Includes Campeonato da Liga. Years below refer to the season that ended that year.
| Team | City | Years | First season | Last season | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC Porto | Porto | 73 | 1935 | 2007 | |
| 1 | SL Benfica | Lisbon | 73 | 1935 | 2007 | |
| 1 | Sporting CP | Lisbon | 73 | 1935 | 2007 | |
| 4 | CF Belenenses | Lisbon | 69 | 1935 | 2007 | |
| 5 | Vitória SC | Guimarães | 63 | 1942 | 2006 | |
| 6 | Vitória FC | Setúbal | 59 | 1935 | 2007 | |
| 7 | Académica | Coimbra | 55 | 1935 | 2007 | |
| 8 | SC Braga | Braga | 51 | 1948 | 2007 | |
| 9 | Boavista FC | Porto | 50 | 1936 | 2007 | |
| 10 | CS Marítimo | Funchal | 27 | 1978 | 2007 | |
| 11 | Atlético CP | Lisbon | 24 | 1944 | 1977 | |
| 11 | FC Barreirense | Barreiro | 24 | 1938 | 1979 | |
| 11 | SC Beira Mar | Aveiro | 24 | 1962 | 2007 | |
| 11 | SC Salgueiros | Porto | 24 | 1944 | 2002 | folded 2005 |
| 15 | GD CUF | Barreiro | 23 | 1943 | 1976 | |
| 15 | SC Farense | Faro | 23 | 1971 | 2002 | refounded 2005 |
| 17 | Leixões SC | Matosinhos | 22 | 1937 | 1989 | |
| 18 | Varzim SC | Póvoa do Varzim | 21 | 1964 | 2003 | |
| 19 | GD Estoril-Praia | Estoril | 20 | 1945 | 2005 | |
| 20 | SC Covilhã | Covilhã | 15 | 1949 | 1988 | |
| 20 | SC Olhanense | Olhão | 15 | 1942 | 1975 | |
| 22 | CF Estrela Amadora | Amadora | 14 | 1989 | 2007 | |
| 20 | Gil Vicente FC | Barcelos | 14 | 1991 | 2006 | |
| 20 | Lusitano Évora | Évora | 14 | 1953 | 1966 | |
| 20 | Rio Ave FC | Vila do Conde | 14 | 1980 | 2006 | |
| 20 | UD Leiria | Leiria | 14 | 1980 | 2007 | |
| 27 | GD Chaves | Chaves | 13 | 1986 | 1999 | |
| 27 | Portimonense SC | Portimão | 13 | 1977 | 1990 | |
| 29 | FC Penafiel | Penafiel | 12 | 1981 | 2006 | |
| 30 | SC Espinho | Espinho | 11 | 1975 | 1997 | |
| 31 | FC Paços Ferreira | Paços de Ferreira | 9 | 1992 | 2007 | |
| 32 | CD Nacional | Funchal | 8 | 1989 | 2007 | |
| 32 | FC Tirsense | Santo Tirso | 8 | 1968 | 1996 | |
| 34 | Oriental | Lisbon | 7 | 1951 | 1975 | |
| 35 | FC Famalicão | Famalicão | 6 | 1947 | 1994 | |
| 35 | SCU Torreense | Torres Vedras | 6 | 1956 | 1992 | |
| 35 | União de Tomar | Tomar | 6 | 1969 | 1976 | |
| 38 | Académico do Porto | Porto | 5 | 1935 | 1942 | |
| 38 | Carcavelinhos | Carcavelos | 5 | 1936 | 1942 | |
| 38 | CF União Madeira | Funchal | 5 | 1990 | 1995 | |
| 38 | FC Alverca | Alverca do Ribatejo | 5 | 1999 | 2004 | |
| 38 | O Elvas CAD | Elvas | 5 | 1948 | 1988 | |
| 38 | SC Campomaiorense | Campo Maior | 5 | 1996 | 2001 | folded |
| 44 | AD Sanjoanense | São João da Madeira | 4 | 1947 | 1969 | |
| 44 | CAF Viseu | Viseu | 4 | 1979 | 1989 | |
| 44 | Leça FC | Leça da Palmeira | 4 | 1942 | 1998 | |
| 44 | SC Caldas | Caldas da Rainha | 4 | 1956 | 1959 | |
| 48 | Amora FC | Amora | 3 | 1981 | 1983 | |
| 48 | CD Aves | Vila das Aves | 3 | 1986 | 2007 | |
| 48 | CD Feirense | Santa Maria da Feira | 3 | 1963 | 1990 | |
| 48 | CD Montijo | Montijo | 3 | 1973 | 1977 | |
| 48 | CD Santa Clara | Ponta Delgada | 3 | 2000 | 2003 | |
| 48 | Lusitano VRSA | Vila Real de Santo António | 3 | 1948 | 1950 | |
| 48 | Moreirense FC | Moreira de Cónegos | 3 | 2003 | 2005 | |
| 48 | Unidos de Lisboa | Lisboa | 3 | 1941 | 1943 | |
| 56 | A Naval 1º de Maio | Figueira da Foz | 2 | 2006 | 2007 | |
| 56 | Seixal FC | Seixal | 2 | 1964 | 1965 | |
| 56 | SL Elvas | Elvas | 2 | 1946 | 1947 | |
| 59 | AD Fafe | Fafe | 1 | 1989 | 1989 | |
| 59 | Casa Pia AC | Lisboa | 1 | 1939 | 1939 | |
| 59 | CF União de Coimbra | Coimbra | 1 | 1973 | 1973 | |
| 59 | FC Felgueiras | Felgueiras | 1 | 1996 | 1996 | |
| 59 | FC Vizela | Vizela | 1 | 1985 | 1985 | |
| 59 | GC Alcobaça | Alcobaça | 1 | 1983 | 1983 | |
| 59 | GD Riopele | Famalicão | 1 | 1978 | 1978 | |
| 59 | RD Águeda | Águeda | 1 | 1984 | 1984 | |
| 59 | UD Oliveirense | Oliveira do Bairro | 1 | 1946 | 1946 | |
| 59 | União de Lisboa | Lisboa | 1 | 1935 | 1935 |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- (English) Football results - Portugal football
- zerozero.pt
- Portuguese Soccer News
