With the business end of the football season drawing to its conclusion, the race to be champions in Portugal is still being fiercely contested. There are three teams in the running. Two of the traditional heavyweights of Portuguese and European football, Benfica and Porto, as well as Braga. With plenty more points to be won and lost, how do their chances of success look going into the final weeks?
Porto
The Primeira Liga is one of the best in Europe and Porto are one of its most famous clubs. Because of this, the league has interest from across the globe.
It’s a common market on betting sites too, with bookmakers offering different markets for games. For example, live soccer betting offers in-game betting including the number of goals, handicap and final score odds on Porto’s remaining fixtures.
Although priced at 3.33/1 to win the league, Porto has a more favourable run-in than their competitors. This squad doesn’t have the quality of years gone by but with Pepe and Mehdi Taremi, they just might end up top of the pile come the end of May.
Juntos #AtéAoFim #FCFFCP #TaçadePortugal pic.twitter.com/OnfqRIV2YN
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) April 26, 2023
Braga
Situated to the north of the country and famous for its religious heritage, this Braga team will need spiritual intervention if they are to mount a proper challenge to Porto and Benfica in the final few games.
They are third at the moment but play Benfica in one of their remaining matches, which will be crucial in deciding where the title ends up. Simon Banza and Ricardo Horta are leading goalscorers this season and will need to continue their fine form to overturn their rivals from Lisbon.
Although their league campaign might not end as they want, Braga has the Taca de Portugal final to look forward to and will hope this will bring silverware to the club come the end of the season.
Benfica
Benfica have history and experience on their side going into the final weeks. The Lisbon side tops the table at the moment and are favourites to finish there too, priced at odds of 3/20. This season was a successful one in Europe, only falling to the final eight in the Champions League against Inter Milan.
At home, the domestic championship is in their hands but with the fixture against Braga as well as one versus city rivals Sporting in the final month, there are still some hurdles to be jumped.
Their squad is brimming with talented players who have competed at the highest level throughout Europe and on the world stage. With the help of Lionel Messi in his last World Cup, central defender Nicolas Otamendi is a World Cup winner, while David Neres and Goncalo Ramos provide proven and exciting attacking options in the final third.
The quality and experience of these players should be enough to see them over the line.
Neres is our Man of The Match! #SLBEP • #LigaPortugal pic.twitter.com/5Dpbygy8BY
— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) April 23, 2023
This race for the title might seem like a foregone conclusion to some. However, football’s unpredictability and Benfica’s slightly trickier remaining fixtures could mean that the fans of the blue and white of Porto will be celebrating when medals are handed out. Although the league is a sleeping giant of European football, the top two positions still offer clubs a chance to qualify for the Champions League meaning fixtures will remain competitive until the end.
