4 SPORTS SEASON REVIEW 2021-22

Competitiveness and emotion continue to mark the Portuguese Professional Football sector. The three competitions of Liga Portugal stand out for the quality of its players and the game itself.

After two seasons affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Liga Portugal bwin has returned to normality. The stadiums were back to full capacity and the fans experienced all the emotions of the 34 matchdays of the competition in their favourite place: the stadiums. A season that was marked by several historical performances, impressive debuts, much-anticipated returns and many goals that made all the Football lovers in our country smile.

The Champions title returned to the North of the national territory, with FC Porto beating the competition to win the 30th national championship in their history. Sporting CP and SL Benfica closed the podium, respectively. At the opposite end of the table, Belenenses SAD and CD Tondela failed to counter the worst possible outcome and were relegated to the Liga Portugal SABSEG.

A special note to Gil Vicente FC, under Ricardo Soares. The men from Barcelos finished in 5th place and qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League for the first time in their history. SC Braga, occupying the 4th place, and Vitória SC, closing the top-6, secured the remaining European vacancies.

In Barcelos, Ricardo Soares and his players brought back the joy and passion for football to their city, through a season that will go down in the history of Gil Vicente FC. For the first time in its existence, the club will be present in a European competition, in this case, the UEFA Europa Conference League. The Barcelos team secured 5th place in the competition and came very close to breaking their record of points in a league season. It is also worth mentioning the 12-game unbeaten streak, between Matchday 16 and 27, accomplished by Ricardo Soares' men, the longest unbeaten run ever recorded by Gil Vicente FC.

Sérgio Conceição and his players were the main protagonists of the 2021-2022 season of the Liga Portugal bwin. Besides winning the league, there are several records that make this title even more memorable in the Dragon's lair. The blue and white team conquered 91 points, an absolute record in the competition, and registered only one defeat in all the 34 matchdays played. Along the way, he overcame John Mortimore's SL Benfica unbeaten record by seeing his team reach 58 games without tasting defeat.

The past edition of the Liga Portugal bwin will always have a special place in the heart of the young player from Braga, Roger Fernandes. On Matchday 2 of the competition, and against Sporting CP, at just 15 years, 8 months and 23 days of age, the striker became the youngest player ever to play in a Liga Portugal bwin match. On Matchday 16, SC Braga won at Arouca (6-0), with Roger scoring twice and becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of the competition. And to finish the dream season of the young warrior, the minutes played against Sheriff Tiraspol, in the Europa League playoff, made him the youngest Portuguese ever to participate in a European competition.

The Canarinhos have taken 25 points in the first 17 matches of the competition, recording one of the most successful first turns ever when it comes to newly promoted teams. In this millennium, only Vitória SC, in the 2007-2008 season, and FC Famalicão, in 2019-2020, have done better, with the latter holding the best record, with 31 points.

Since joining SC Braga in 2016, Ricardo Horta has won the hearts of the entire Braga supporters. The 27-year-old forward has become, season after season, one of the team's leading figures and, on the last day of the Liga Portugal bwin, he got the achievement he so rightfully deserved. Horta reached a total tally of 93 goals and became the top scorer in the history of the Minho Warriors, surpassing Mário Laranjo, the historical striker of the 40s and 50s.

After three seasons away from the top flight of professional football, Estoril Praia marked their return with a superb first turn of the season.

For the second season in a row, the battle for the remaining spot in the next Liga Portugal bwin season was held via a playoff between the 16th-placed team in the Liga Portugal bwin and the thirdplaced team in the Liga Portugal SABSEG. Moreirense FC and GD Chaves faced each other over two legs, with the Flavienses prevailing by winning 2-1 on aggregate. A victory by two goals to nil, in the first game, played at the Municipal Eng.º Manuel Branco Teixeira, with goals from João Teixeira and João Correia, provided an important advantage, that the Transmontanos knew how to take advantage of in the decisive game.

In Moreira de Cónegos, the home side sought to overcome the first leg deficit and a first-half goal from Paulinho gave Ricardo Sá Pinto's men hope. However, the equaliser didn't come, and Vítor Campelos, his athletes and the Chaves fans ended up celebrating.

This way, GD Chaves will participate, in 2022-2023, for the 17th time in the Liga Portugal bwin, confirming their return, three seasons later. Moreirense FC will join the Liga Portugal SABSEG next season, something that has not happened since 2013-14.

The 2021-2022 season of the Liga Portugal SABSEG will go down in history for several distinct reasons. If on one hand, Rio Ave FC and Casa Pia AC achieved the much-desired return to the Liga Portugal bwin, it is also a fact that Varzim SC and A. Académica, two historic clubs of Portuguese football, finished on the opposite end of the table and moved down to the non-professional championships.

The season was marked by a strong and evenly matched performance in the pursuit of the various sporting objectives of the different teams. In the fight for promotion, Vilacondenses and Casapianos excelled themselves on the last day of the competition, with victories for both sides sealing the deal. GD Chaves also fought until the last day of the competition, but the defeat in Vila do Conde sent the Trás-os-Montes team into the playoffs.

In the exact opposite battle, only A. Académica had its fate determined prematurely. On Matchday 30, the Coimbra team drew against FC Penafiel at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, and were relegated to a non-professional league for the first time in their history. On Matchday 34, the fight was between Varzim SC and SC Covilhã and it was the team from the highlands who got the better of Varzim by guaranteeing access to the relegation playoff. The Poveiros, meanwhile, were relegated after seven consecutive seasons in the Liga Portugal SABSEG.

Casa Pia AC returned to the top flight of Professional Football. 83 years after their last appearance. The team from Pina Manique overcame even the most optimistic predictions and clinched promotion to the Liga Portugal SABSEG. Very consistent throughout the 34 rounds of the competition, Filipe Martins' team stayed in the upper places for the vast majority of the competition. The Geese added 21 wins, five draws and eight defeats, conquering 68 points, the second place in the standings and the muchdesired return to the Liga Portugal bwin, a competition they will be part of for the first time since 1938-1939.

Unlike their promotion companions, Rio Ave FC have returned to the top flight of professional football, just one season after being relegated. Luís Freire was the chosen manager to take the Vilacondenses back to the Liga Portugal bwin and he didn't let the expectations down.

On the last day of the competition, the Vila do Conde team only needed a draw, against GD Chaves, to guarantee promotion and the championship title. In a packed stadium, Rio Ave FC gave their fans the greatest joy with a comprehensive 3-0 victory.

The team from Vila do Conde won the second tier of Portuguese football for the third time in history - the last time Rio Ave FC had won this competition was in 2002-2003.

This Liga Portugal SABSEG season will be remembered by João Carlos, A. Académica's striker, with a bittersweet taste. On an individual level, he was one of the most outstanding players of the competition and, together with Bryan Róchez, of CD Nacional, he was the top scorer of the competition, scoring 15 goals.

The Brazilian was impressive for the Students but could not prevent the worst of fates for his team. The Briosa had a season well below expectations and was relegated with four games to go. João Carlos scored many goals, but to little effect, and A. Académica managed to collect only 17 points in 34 games.

There were several moments that marked this edition of the Liga Portugal SABSEG. One of those moments took place on Matchday 8, at the Estádio José Gomes, in a match that opposed Estrela da Amadora and Ac. Viseu. The home team won, 4-0, and Diogo Pinto was the hero of the night with a supersonic hat-trick, obtained in the first 12 minutes.

The Portuguese player made history and surpassed Mendy who, in 2015, at the service of União da Madeira, scored 3 times in just 24 minutes, also against Ac.Viseu.

As in the Liga Portugal bwin, youthrelated records were also broken in the Liga Portugal SABSEG. During the match between Leixões SC and CD Mafra, in the 16th matchday of the competition, Ricardo Sousa, coach of the Mafrenses, sent Ricardinho into the match, in the 89th minute of the match.

The youngster from Malveira became the youngest ever to play in a Liga Portugal SABSEG match, with only 16 years, one month and six days of age. The athlete graduated from CD Mafra beat a record that previously belonged to Cuco, who made his debut in the second tier of Professional Football at 16 years, two months and two days in 2004.

Besides his debut, Ricardinho appeared in 2 more matches in the competition, showing that age is just a number and that he will be a valid option for next season, in what will be the fight for his team's objectives.

For the second time, a playoff was held between teams from the Liga Portugal SABSEG and teams from the highest non-professional division, after in 2016-17 Leixões SC played against SC Praiense and Ac. Viseu against Merelinense, with the Liga Portugal SABSEG teams (Leixões SC and Ac. Viseu) securing their continuation in the higher competition at the time.

This time SC Covilhã ( ranked 16th in the Liga Portugal SABSEG) and FC Alverca (Winner of the Liga 3 playoff) faced each other, in a clash that finished on a high note for the Serranos, who thus ensured continuity in the second tier of Professional Football.

After a goalless draw in Alverca, in the first leg, the Beira side came out on top in the second game, played at the Estádio José Santos Pinto, benefiting from Felipe Dini's early goal in the first minute. The lead would eventually be extended after the 30th minute, when Rui Gomes struck a shot into the back of the Ribatejo side's net.

Thus, SC Covilhã beat FC Alverca, by 2-0, celebrating survival in front of their fans, who completely filled the stands of the Estádio José Santos Pinto. The team led by Leonel Pontes is now in its 15th consecutive participation in the competition, holding the status of the team with the longest streak in this division.

The Final Four of the Allianz CUP took place, for the second consecutive year, in the city of Leiria and, as in the previous year, it was Sporting CP who returned home with reasons to celebrate. In what is known in the country as the "Eternal Derby", the Lions beat their Lisbon rivals, SL Benfica, by 2-1, with the Spanish forward Pablo Sarabia scoring the winning goal in the 78th minute. A goal that earned them their second consecutive League Cup and the fourth in the last five years. Besides Sporting CP and SL Benfica, the Final Four of the Allianz Cup had two teams that made it very difficult for their opponents to reach the final of the competition. Sporting CP faced the Azoreans, CD Santa Clara, who even had the lead in the duel against the Lions. Lincoln put the islanders ahead in the 30th minute, but Mikel Villanueva's own goal and a penalty converted by the hero of the final, Pablo Sarabia, turned things around for the Lions.

In the other semi-final, the record title-holders of the competition, SL Benfica, had to take up the demanding challenge of facing a fierce Boavista FC side. Nelson Veríssimo's men took the early lead through Everton's individual effort in the 16th minute. However, the Checkered team refused to give up and, after a superb second half, they snatched the equaliser and sent the game to penalties. CD Santa Clara and Boavista FC left, therefore, a great impression in everyone's memories.

Two teams that brightened up the Football Week. A week that offers a lot more than just three football matches. Liga Portugal provides the fans with several moments of fun and entertainment with the Fan Zone, which livens up the centre of the host city and where everyone can enjoy the various activities and moments related to Football.