If you are not participating yet
You can read everything on the announcement post and prepare yourself for a tough season.
Announcement post: https://steemit.com/contest/@diogosantos/steem-fantasy-portuguese-league-or-join-and-win-sbd-steem-weekly
Last chance for transfers
Today is the last day you have to make all the transfer you want for free. So hurry up, less than 5 hours left.
My advice is for you to pay attention to the players that are injured from the pre-season or currently outside due to disciplinary punishment.
Teams presentation
I will use the acronyms that the site uses to better identify the teams.
More in depth presentation through the season for every team.
FC PORTO (PRT)
Porto is the champion in title and just won the super-cup Cândido de Oliveira.
They are the favourites to win the league in the end of the season, along side with SL Benfica and Sporting CP.
SL Benfica (BEN)
Benfica finished last season in second place with their striker Jonas winning the award of best scorer of the Liga NOS with 34 goals scored in the entire season. It´s not certain yet, but everything points for Jonas to leave Benfica in a recent future.
Sporting CP (SPO)
Sporting ended last season on a big crisis that was talked all around the world, with some fans attacking and assaulting the players of the team. Many of them rescinded contract, but the ones who stayed are committed to show their professionalism. They also lost their coach, which means changes on their style of play are coming.
Their last official game was a lost in the Portuguese Cup Final.
Braga (BRG)
Braga is the fourth biggest team in Portugal, either in terms of results and also in terms of money. Their goal every season is to be a pain in S of the 3 favourites to win the Portuguese League, and of course, if possible fight for a place in the Champions League.
Rio Ave (RAV)
As you must have noticed already, I´m introducing the teams in order of their place in last season. So Rio Ave ended up in 5th. Rio Ave has become a better team last years achieving a consistent level and always fighting for the Europa League.
Chaves (CHA)
Probably the biggest surprise of last season, since they were only promoted 2 seasons ago. They showed great football and their coach really got recognized as a success.
Marítimo (MAR)
Maritimo was a little bit of a disappointment, the team from the island usually fights for a place in the Europa League and this time they weren't even close. Breaking negative records, for example, lost at home against PRT, something that didn't happen for 6 years.
Boavista (BOA)
From the same city of the Champion (PRT), they ended up on a mid end, because their goals couldn't be much high and at the same time they avoided the relegation very early avoiding a huge fight.
Vitória de Gumarães (VGM)
Probably the biggest disappointment of the season, as we are always used to see them fighting for the top spots consistently and most of the times reaching Europa League groups. Their fans must be expecting much better this season, but they already lost a key player - Raphinha - for Sporting CP.
Portimonense (PTM), Tondela (TON) and Belenenses (BEL)
All three teams performing well on the first half of the season, but falling of short in the second half. Their positions don´t offer much to say, it was inside of the expected.
Desportivo das Aves (AVE)
The most active team in terms of transfers last season, replacing more than 20 players on their team after being promoted in 2016/17. They achieved their goal of avoiding relegation and ended up surprising everybody winning the Portuguese Cup against all odds, and playing the final as a huge underdog.
Vitória de Setúbal (VST), Moreirense (MOR) and Feirense (FEI)
These 3 teams ended last season with their life on the line, but eventually the combination of results allowed them to secure another season of Liga NOS. So not much expected from them, they will have to fight all season to get the most points possible to avoid repeating last season struggle.
Nacional da Madeira (NAC) and Santa Clara (SCL)
These are the 2 teams who got promoted last season, with a lot of speculation around what Nacional will be able to do this season considering the amazing season they did last year. As to Santa Clara, everything points for a rough season fighting to avoid relegation.
Here is this week's schedule
Today is the day it all starts, at 20:30 am, Portugal time, SL Benfica will receive at home, Vitória FC (Gumarães).
My opinion is that VGM will have a great chance to take points away from BEN, because BEN just finished the first leg of qualification for the Champions League, which means they will be physicaly more tired.
But most importantly BEN pre-season showed a lot of problems, I would say lack of team cohesion.
Call for Sponsors:
Finally, if anyone of you wants to sponsor this contest and increase the SBD/STEEM prize pool, you are always welcome. As a return, I will do my best to recognize you in every upcoming post related to the contest. If you are willing to sponsor, please comment below or discord me: Diogo#2408
If you know any way on how I can improve the contest pls leave your idea in the comment section, I would appreciate it very much.
Thanks for your time!
If you appreciate the work I´m doing:
