Portuguese Primeira Liga 2019/20 statistics ahead of June 3 return date

May 29, 2020 By Ali M.

Topics: Porto, Benfica, Sporting Braga, Sporting CP, Primeira Liga

The Portuguese flight is set to get back underway. Here's a quick remainder on how the 2019/20 season left off.

Football is returning in Portugal! The Primeira Liga has been suspended since March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the country’s top-flight league has been cleared to resume the 2019/20 season on June 03.

Liga Portugal initially confirmed that Matchday 25 would commence on June 04 but that date was later moved a day earlier. Gil Vicente’s trip to Portimonense kicks things off on Wednesday, with Porto’s away showdown with Famalicao taking place later that same day.

Excited for the return of the Primeira Liga? Ready to see the likes of Porto, Benfica, Braga, and Sporting CP in action? Here’s everything you need to know about the Portuguese top-flight and how the 2019/20 campaign left off.

Who are the title contenders?

Here's how things left off

Pos. Team MP W D L GF GA GD P Form
1 Sporting CP 30 26 2 2 87 27 +60 80 WWWWW

2 Benfica 30 23 4 3 68 24 +44 73 WWLWW

3 Porto 30 19 5 6 55 24 +31 62 WDLLW

4 Sporting Braga 30 19 5 6 63 41 +22 62 WWLWW

5 Vitória Guimarães 30 17 6 7 45 32 +13 57 LDWWW

6 Arouca 30 13 5 12 51 40 +11 44 DWWWL

7 Moreirense 30 12 7 11 30 34 -4 43 LLDLW

8 Famalicão 30 8 12 10 33 38 -5 36 DLDWW

9 Casa Pia 30 8 8 14 30 43 -13 32 LDDWL

10 Farense 30 8 7 15 39 44 -5 31 LDWLD

11 Rio Ave 30 5 16 9 32 38 -6 31 DDWDD

12 Gil Vicente 30 8 7 15 37 48 -11 31 WLLLL

13 Boavista 30 7 9 14 35 56 -21 30 DLLDL

14 Estoril 30 8 6 16 45 52 -7 30 DLDWW

15 Estrela 30 6 11 13 32 46 -14 29 DDDLD

16 Portimonense 30 7 7 16 34 64 -30 28 DDWLL

17 Chaves 30 5 8 17 30 62 -32 23 DWLLL

18 Vizela 30 4 9 17 29 62 -33 21 LLLLL

Pos.	Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	P	Form
1	Sporting CP	30	26	2	2	87	27	+60	80	WWWWW
2	Benfica	30	23	4	3	68	24	+44	73	WWLWW
3	Porto	30	19	5	6	55	24	+31	62	WDLLW
4	Sporting Braga	30	19	5	6	63	41	+22	62	WWLWW
5	Vitória Guimarães	30	17	6	7	45	32	+13	57	LDWWW
6	Arouca	30	13	5	12	51	40	+11	44	DWWWL
7	Moreirense	30	12	7	11	30	34	-4	43	LLDLW
8	Famalicão	30	8	12	10	33	38	-5	36	DLDWW
9	Casa Pia	30	8	8	14	30	43	-13	32	LDDWL
10	Farense	30	8	7	15	39	44	-5	31	LDWLD
11	Rio Ave	30	5	16	9	32	38	-6	31	DDWDD
12	Gil Vicente	30	8	7	15	37	48	-11	31	WLLLL
13	Boavista	30	7	9	14	35	56	-21	30	DLLDL
14	Estoril	30	8	6	16	45	52	-7	30	DLDWW
15	Estrela	30	6	11	13	32	46	-14	29	DDDLD
16	Portimonense	30	7	7	16	34	64	-30	28	DDWLL
17	Chaves	30	5	8	17	30	62	-32	23	DWLLL
18	Vizela	30	4	9	17	29	62	-33	21	LLLLL

Champions League (Group Stage)

Champions League (Qualification)

Europa League (Qualification)

Promotion - Europa Conference League (Qualification: )

Relagation Play-off

Relegation - Liga Portugal 2

With only 10 rounds remaining, the safe bet would be on either Porto or Benfica winning the title. Portugal’s two biggest clubs top the table, with the Dragons (60 pts) holding a slim one-point advantage over the Eagles (59 pts). Sporting Braga sit in third but are way behind on 46 points, meaning as of now, the Primeira Liga is a two-horse title race.

Who are the favorites to qualify for next season's Champions League?

Only the top two teams in Portugal earn tickets to the UEFA Champions League – the winners earn automatic qualification while the runners-up make the qualifying round. As a result, the favorites to make Europe’s premier club competition are Porto and Benfica. While third-placed Sporting Braga are not mathematically out of the equation, it’s hard to see the Eagles losing their 13-point lead.

Who are the favorites to qualify for next season's Europa League?

Here is where things get interesting. Everyone from third to seventh stands a viable chance of making next season’s Europa League. Sporting Braga and Sporting CP are the favorites as they sit on 46 and 42 points, respectively. However, fifth-placed Rio Ave (38 pts), sixth-placed Vitória Guimarães (37 pts), and seventh-placed Famalicão (37 pts) are all within touching distance of the Leões and could beat the Lisbon giants to that final Europa League berth.

Which teams are fighting relegation and who are the favorites to go down?

Desportivo Aves (13 pts) are dead bottom in the standings and are nine points adrift of safety, meaning they are destined for relegation – unless they pull off a miraculous comeback, that is. Only the bottom two teams drop down to the second division, meaning 17th-placed Portimonense (16 pts) are the other side in the danger zone. 16th-placed Paços de Ferreira are only six points clear of the relegation area, which means danger is lurking. The same can be said for 15th-placed Maritimo (24 pts) and 14th-placed Tondela (25 pts) but the odds favor them remaining in the Primera Liga. Belenenses, who are in the 14th spot with 26 points, are 10 points clear and should thus be safe.