Portuguese Primeira Liga Outright Preview

We preview the Portuguese Primeira Liga Outrights for the 2017/18 season. Betting now available at Hollywoodbets.

We look at the Big Three Clubs in Portugal tipped to win the Primeira Liga. As the 2017/2018 season gets underway defending champions Benfica will look to claim a fifth consecutive, but the likes of FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon will look to end the Eagles’ dominance.

Benfica
The 36-time title holders have the best record in Portugal’s club football history. Since 1935, the team has played 2330 matches, winning 1588 of them. An incredible feat that they continued on into their previous 2016/2017 season, winning a mere six points clear of rivals FC Porto. The Eagles topped the league with 82 points, 25 wins from 34 matches played.

The side lost to Dortmund in their Round 16 Champions League clash, 4-1 on aggregate after winning the first leg 1-0. This year we’ll see how the champs will fare against an array of big spending clubs.

Benfica transfers include the loss of Nelsinho to Barcelona for 30 million Euros, goalkeeper Ederson Moraes to Manchester city for 40 million Euros, and Victor Lindelof to Manchester United for a 35 million Euros. Time will tell if the loss of these players is enough to have an impact on Benfica’s season.

The Challengers

FC Porto
The 27-time title holders will be disappointed to finish six points away from Benfica. Porto’s league campaign last time out was plagued by far too many draws, something they’ll need to avoid if they’re to challenge Benfica’s domestic dominance. Dragões last league title came back in the 2012/2013 season. Porto, unfortunately, lost their top goal scorer as Andre Silva who was scooped up by big spending AC Milan, for 38 million Euros.

But the side has introduced Atletico Madrid midfielder, Oliver Torres. Manager Sergio Conceicao will have to regroup and refresh his players ahead of another scintillating season.

Sporting Clube de Portugal
Last season third-placed  Sporting Lisbon, have won 18 titles in their history of Primeira Liga. The Lions performed well and managed to finish in the top three, winning 21 from 34 matches, and suffered just six losses in their campaign.

The last time Sporting tasted Liga success was back in the 2001/2002 season, a feat they would love to relive this season. Fabio Coentrao will join Sporting from Real Madrid, to add some solidity to the defence along with centre back Jeremy Mathieu who joins from Barcelona on a free transfer.

The challengers have a lot to do this season, but based on the close-run 2016/2017 race, the playing field is wide open, and we could have a new champion.

Verdict: Benfica 12/10
With the chance of claiming five Liga titles on the cards, Benfica will pretty much give it their all, although the challengers won’t be too far behind, bet on the consistent Benfica.