{"id":1143704,"date":"2020-06-02T15:24:17","date_gmt":"2020-06-02T14:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1143704"},"modified":"2020-06-03T10:41:32","modified_gmt":"2020-06-03T09:41:32","slug":"primeira-liga-2019-20-guide-best-players-matches","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/primeira-liga-2019-20-guide-best-players-matches\/","title":{"rendered":"Primeira Liga 2019\/20 return: Where to watch, title race state of play & most exciting players"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Primeira Liga gets back up and running on Wednesday June 3rd after nearly three months without action.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Portuguese top-flight is just one of a number of European leagues resuming play after major sporting activity was halted across the continent in mid-March.<\/p>\n

In Germany<\/span> the Bundesliga<\/span> returned to action last month, while in England<\/span>, the Premier League<\/span> has been pencilled in for a June 17 restart.<\/p>\n

And while it appears that both of those titles have been wrapped up by Bayern Munich<\/span> and Liverpool<\/span> respectively, in Portugal<\/span> the landscape in the upper reaches is anything but a foregone conclusion.<\/p>\n

Just the single point separates the top two, while there is still plenty to play for at the foot of the table and in the race for European qualification. This is a league where anything is possible in the next 10 games…<\/p>\n

State of play<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A vintage O Classico title race<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Porto \u2013 60 points<\/li>\n
  2. Benfica \u2013 59 points<\/li>\n
  3. Braga \u2013 46 points<\/li>\n
  4. Sporting CP \u2013 42 points<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When we think of Portuguese football we of course think of Porto and Benfica. These two powerhouses are synonymous with the Primeira Liga, while their sour-blooded rivalry transcends the turf. The O Classico is a footballing conflict steeped in political and cultural connotations between Portugal<\/span>\u2019s two largest cities and the country\u2019s two most decorated clubs.<\/p>\n

    Of course, Sporting CP are in the conversation, but for the most part \u2014 and particularly this season \u2014 the Porto-Benfica rivalry is the main attraction.\u00a0In fact, these two clubs have monopolised the Primeira Liga title for nearly two decades, with the last club other than\u00a0Porto or Benfica to clinch top-flight silverware coming in 2002.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Primeira<\/p>\n

    For 18 years Porto and Benfica have been fighting tooth and nail for domestic supremacy, and this year offers one of the fiercest title races since the dramatic 2012\/13, game-defining, season. Just before the campaign came to a stop, Sergio Conceicao’s Dragons were leading their adversaries by just the single point.<\/p>\n

    Bruno Lage’s side have lost just three times this season, with two of those defeats coming at the hands of Porto, who claimed a 3-2 win on home turf at the start of February and a 2-0 victory at the Estadio da Luz back in August.<\/p>\n

    With both clubs out of European football for the remainder of the 2019\/20 season, everything will be put into this title race. They will also meet each other in Taca de Portugal final, though it has already been confirmed the showpiece event at the Estadio Nacional will be played behind closed doors.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Upcoming fixtures<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Wednesday 3rd June<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Portimonense vs Gil Vicente (19:00)<\/li>\n
    • Famalicao vs Porto (21:15)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Thursday 4th June<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Maritimo vs Vitoria de Setubal (19:00)<\/li>\n
      • Benfica vs Tondela (19:15)<\/li>\n
      • Vitoria de Guimaraes vs Sporting CP (21:15)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Friday 5th June<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Santa Clara vs Braga (19:00)<\/li>\n
        • Desportivo das Aves vs Belenenses (21:15)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Saturday 6th June<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          • Boavista vs Moreirense (21:15)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Sunday 7th June<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            • Rio Ave vs Pacos de Ferreira (21:00)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              How to live stream Primeira Liga fixtures<\/strong><\/h2>\n

              bet365 are live streaming a selection of Primeira Liga fixtures for the remainder of the 2019\/20 season. Here\u2019s how you can access fixtures being livestreamed on the bet365 platform:<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Go to\u00a0<\/span>bet365 via this link<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n
              2. Register for an account<\/li>\n
              3. Make a deposit to unlock the live stream sections of the site<\/li>\n
              4. Head to the live stream section of the site<\/li>\n
              5. Watch your chosen game live<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                NB:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>To watch, customers must have a funded Sports account or have placed bet within last 24 hours. 18+ | T&C\u2019s Apply | Gamble Responsibly | Geo restrictions apply. These odds and promotions are valid at the time of the writing of this article on Tuesday, June 2nd at 11:30 GMT.<\/em><\/p>\n

                \"Primeira<\/a><\/p>\n

                \n

                Fight for fourth: Sporting CP looking over their shoulder?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                Unless things take a dramatic twist, Braga look certain to secure Europa League qualification, with the Archbishops currently seven points adrift of the top two but eights points clear of fifth. The same perhaps cannot be said of Sporting CP, though.<\/span><\/p>\n

                Portugal<\/span>‘s third-most successful club are certainly looking over their shoulder with Rio Ave and Vitoria de Guimaraes just four and five points behind them respectively. That slight point advantage is amplified when looking at this week’s fixture list: Vitoria de Guimaraes vs Sporting CP.<\/p>\n

                \n

                ? postos no Vit\u00f3ria SC ?#SportingCP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/4rCaZRl2q0<\/a><\/p>\n

                — Sporting CP (@SportingCP) June 1, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n