Portuguese League

[Pi]

I know this isn't a top European league, however it has it's moments, so...

First, for all you that do not know Portuguese football a small head's up, in Portugal there are 3 major teams: Benfica (S.L.Benfica), Porto (F.C.Porto) and Sporting (Sporting C.P. or if you prefer Sporting Lisbon) these teams win the Championship about 97/98% of the times, however in the last 2 years the "small" teams are making the life really hard for the 3 big teams what provides a more exciting Championship.
Today ended the first week of the second part of the Championship (week 18), so I thought it could be a good day to start.

Here are the standings (European Cup's access only):

1st Porto, 18 games, 40 points
2nd Benfica, 18 games, 37 points
3rd Nacional, 18 games, 35 points
4th Sp. Braga, 18 games, 35 points
5th Sporting, 18 games, 33 points

Week 18 (15 January) results:

E. Amadora 2 - 1 Porto
Benfica 3 - 0 Académica
Nacional 2 - 2 P. Ferreira
Sp. Braga 1 - 0 U. Leiria
Belenenses 0 - 1 Sporting
Marítimo 1 - 1 Gil Vicente
V. Setúbal 0 - 2 Boavista
Naval 0 - 0 Guimarães
Rio Ave 2 - 0 Penafiel

I'll try to keep this updated

 

[Hammoudi]

Great topic Pi :star: I would love to know more about Portguese league since it gets less coverage.

Can you tell us the top scorers, and who are some of the best players this year (like Quaresma, Nelson etc.)?

 

[Pi]

Can you tell us the top scorers, and who are some of the best players this year (like Quaresma, Nelson etc.)?

Sure, here it goes:


1st Nuno Gomes, Benfica, 13 goals
2nd Meyong, Belenenses, 11 goals
3rd André Pinto, Nacional, 11 goals
4th Liedson, Sporting, 10 goals
5th Marcel, Académica, 9 goals (I think this guy moved to Benfica)
6th Lucho Gonzalez, F.C. Porto, 6 goals
7th Fábio Hempel, V. Setúbal, 6 goals
8th Alexandre Goulart, Nacional, 6 goals
9th Júnior, P. Ferreira, 6 goals
10th Deivid, Sporting, 5 goals

I'll also try to keep this updated.

About Quaresma, he suffered a foul at the start of Porto's he played injured until the half-time, we really was limited. In the first half Porto did their worst exibition of the whole season this shows how much Quaresma is important in Porto's game right now.
Nelson did well for Benfica, sometimes helping more the attack and less the defence, however his side was never in any real danger, he did a lot of good moves and a few good crosses.
Lucho Gonzalez is another great player from Porto, in the second half (no Quaresma) he controlled Porto's game and Porto got a lot better, he scored a goal, and tried to push the team forward but it just wasn't Porto's night.

 

[catanha]

Saw the Amadora vs Porto game yesterday, what the hell was wrong with the pitch?
Lucho has allready captained Porto, in his first season. What a legend!

Interesting to see Porto signing a player by the name of Adriano too.

 

[Hammoudi]

If I am not mistaken, Lucho is a CM, yet he is tied 6th in the scoring chart. Heared alot about this guy, would have loved to see him more.

Also, good to see Gomez doing well. I don't think I've been disappointed in a player the past decade as I have been with him. For some reason he just couldn't do it in Serie A or EPL despite his talents, he just lacks something.

Also, how is Miccoli doing at Benfica? And are you a Porto fan Pi?

 

[Pi]

Saw the Amadora vs Porto game yesterday, what the hell was wrong with the pitch?
Lucho has allready captained Porto, in his first season. What a legend!

Interesting to see Porto signing a player by the name of Adriano too.

Yes the pitch was very bad, but E. Amadora is small team and they can not spare much money to take care of the pitch, so they play with what they have.
Adriano is on a loan from Cruzeiro, he was ready to sign for Sporting but at the last minute it was Porto who got him, because the President of Nacional (is former club) pushed him for Porto.

If I am not mistaken, Lucho is a CM, yet he is tied 6th in the scoring chart. Heared alot about this guy, would have loved to see him more.

Also, good to see Gomez doing well. I don't think I've been disappointed in a player the past decade as I have been with him. For some reason he just couldn't do it in Serie A or EPL despite his talents, he just lacks something.

Also, how is Miccoli doing at Benfica? And are you a Porto fan Pi?

Yes, you are right, Lucho is a CM, he is a good player and still young too.
Miccoli plays as CF at Benfica with Nuno Gomes behind him, Miccoli is not having much luck at Benfica (injuries), I think he only scored 1/2 goals and he did not play a lot, but I think he can have more playing, although Benfica got Marcel (9 goals) and that might complicate things.

And I'm a Benfica fan

 

[Hammoudi]

10th Deivid, Sporting, 5 goals

Is he the same guy that used to play with Bordeaux in France? Tall Brazillian player with good technique?

Also, there was an excellent player of Sporting last year, I believe his name is Duala or so, a very good player. Is he still with them? How good do you think he is?

 

[interista7]

How is Karagounis doing? I know he suffered a lot of injuries and had some adaptation difficulties.

 

[UhUhOleguer]

And I'm a Benfica fan

aaah...god bless!!

I have sympathy for Benfica because of childhood memories and of course my main man RONALD KOEMAN as coach.

It's great to see Nuno doing fine, and I think the 14 million euros+quaresma we paid for Deco was the best deal Barca made the last years.
I really have to wonder why Quaresma is soooo important, because when he played for Barca, he played really brainless and just dribbled around without moving towards the target.

The race is pretty tight, but I really hope Ronald takes it home with Benfica.

 

[Hammoudi]

Karagounis got into a fight recently, I hope that won't affect anything.

Also, I like Benfica, they have a rich history and were a major force in Europe. Not to forget they were the club of Eusibeo.

 

[brehme1989]

I'm a Benfica fan When Benfica was playing V Manchester United I told everyone that Benfica would have raped Utd and they were laughing at me... Guess who laughs now

I haven't watched a lot of Portuguese this season. Last season I watched the Friday game(standard and perhaps a Sunday night game, if there was bad Serie A action and I zapped between the Spanish game )

How good is Lisandro Lopez? I saw some highlights and he was awful!! He missed 3 sitters in a game

Karagounis is not used that much I think... And Benfica was in a very bad condition earlier the season...

I feel that the Portuguese league is the most competitive one in Europe, since three times are always in the thereabouts(Benfica, Porto, Sporting) and there are some tough games with "smaller" teams

 

[brehme1989]

Is he the same guy that used to play with Bordeaux in France? Tall Brazillian player with good technique?

Also, there was an excellent player of Sporting last year, I believe his name is Duala or so, a very good player. Is he still with them? How good do you think he is?

Yes that's the guy Sporting has a very good and young squad IMO... They were unlucky not to win the UEFA Cup last season...

 

[Pi]

Is he the same guy that used to play with Bordeaux in France? Tall Brazillian player with good technique?

Also, there was an excellent player of Sporting last year, I believe his name is Duala or so, a very good player. Is he still with them? How good do you think he is?

Deivid is too much like their main striker (Liedson) so I think he will not last at Sporting.
About Douala, he can play at both sides of the attack is best quality is his speed, he has a good technique, Personally I like him, however is not INTER material, and Sporting's new coach does not seem to believe in him, but I would not mind him going for Benfica if Simão leaves in the Summer.

How is Karagounis doing? I know he suffered a lot of injuries and had some adaptation difficulties.

Yes he had some problems when he strated at Benfica but now he is making is way into the team, however Benfica's coach prefers to have a very defensive midfield.
He as played in some games and shown a few good moves, but I think is not well adapted to Benfica's style of play.

Karagounis got into a fight recently, I hope that won't affect anything.

It wasn't a real fight, Karagounis bumped into Luisão (who uses his elbows a lot) and he got a small cut.

 

[Pi]

It's great to see Nuno doing fine, and I think the 14 million euros+quaresma we paid for Deco was the best deal Barca made the last years.
I really have to wonder why Quaresma is soooo important, because when he played for Barca, he played really brainless and just dribbled around without moving towards the target.

The race is pretty tight, but I really hope Ronald takes it home with Benfica.

Quaresma has more intelligence now, he and Lucho are the top guys at Porto, in my view, without this players Porto would have great difficulties fighting for the Championship.
I also Hope that Benfica Wins, and even more now that Benfica bought some players that can help a lot.

 

[Pi]

I'm a Benfica fan When Benfica was playing V Manchester United I told everyone that Benfica would have raped Utd and they were laughing at me... Guess who laughs now
How good is Lisandro Lopez? I saw some highlights and he was awful!! He missed 3 sitters in a game
I feel that the Portuguese league is the most competitive one in Europe, since three times are always in the thereabouts(Benfica, Porto, Sporting) and there are some tough games with "smaller" teams

Yeah the Manchester game really gave a boost to Benfica after that game Benfica did not take any goal and has won always.
I think Lisandro Lopez is quality player and I believe he can improve very much and become more important in Porto's strategy.
You right when you say that Portugal's big teams are having troubles, it is becoming harder and harder for them to win the Championships.

 

[interista7]

You right when you say that Portugal's big teams are having troubles, it is becoming harder and harder for them to win the Championships.

Which is really good for your football!
There are many difficult matches and competition improves a team.

In Greece we all know (and half of them admit that they do know) who's gonna win the Championship before it begins!
Olympiacos:star: !

 

[Fabio]

How is Karagounis playing?

Fabio :star:

 

[Pi]

How is Karagounis playing?

Fabio :star:

He is not playing much, but he will probably have a go this weekend since one of the players in Benfica's midfield is suspended, plus Benfica's coach already tested him for that position.

 

[Hammoudi]

Benfica: Miccoli To Stay At Luz

Fabrizio Miccoli is currently very happy with his role at Benfica and, given the cutthroat competition at ex-club Juventus, has practically ruled out a move back to Italy in the near future.


The Italian – on loan from Juventus – has been frequently quoted as a possible reinforcement for several teams in the Calcio, but his agent has played down talk of any problems with Koeman.
"The ‘news’ of supposed problems at Benfica are nothing less than inventions by some more zealous elements of the local press", explained Francesco Caliandro to ‘Guérin Sportivo’.
The exec underlined that Miccoli’s future lay with the ‘Encarnados’, revealing that: "Fabrizio won’t be going back to Italy in January and probably not in June either”
“Benfica have a great chance to exercise the right to purchase the player following the existing clause built into the loan agreement from Juventus."
The purchase price established in the agreement hovers around the 5 million mark, and Miccoli will have to work hard against recent buy Marcel to justify the price tag – high for Portugal.

 

[Hammoudi]

Well, that is good, I wish him luck, I love any player that hates Juve!

BTW Pi, do you think that it would be good for Simao to go to Liverpool? In any other time, probably it would, but now Benfica is in the CL last 16, and they will need his experience.

Anyway, it's good to see him playing well again. I really thought he was finished when he didn't do too well at Barca (specially with the huger price-tag) but he bounced back.

Also, is ex-Barca player Giovanni playing with Benfica now?