FC Porto tonight became Primeira Liga champions thanks to their 2-0 win against Sporting CP at the Estádio do Dragão.
Sérgio Conceição’s men headed into the game knowing that just a point would be enough to see them crowned Primeira Liga champions. Captain Danilo Pereira had other ideas, popping up with a fantastic header on 65 minutes to put the Dragões ahead. Moussa Marega wrapped up the match and wrapped up the league title in the 90th minute, delicately dinking home over Luís Maximiano.
This is Porto’s 29th Primeira Liga title and their first since the 17/18 season which was Sérgio Conceição’s first season in charge of the Dragões. It’s fair to say it hasn’t been a vintage Primeira Liga season, with both Benfica and Porto struggling at various points throughout the season. Porto at one point trailed Benfica by seven points and it looked as if As Águias would be laying claim to yet another Primeira Liga title. Porto, however, managed to pull together some fantastic form, winning matches even on occasions when they weren’t playing the best of football and managed to take full advantage of Benfica’s capitulation under Bruno Lage.
Since the return of the Portuguese top flight following the COVID-19 enforced break, Porto has played eight matches, won six, drawn one and lost just one. Benfica, on the other hand, returned in dreadful form. Out of their first five games post-restart, they ran out victorious just once, losing twice and drawing twice. It was after their last defeat, a 2-0 loss at the hands of Marítimo, that Bruno Lage departed the club and was subsequently replaced by assistant Nelson Veríssimo on a temporary basis.
Porto kept going throughout the season even when their title chances looked all but dead and buried and that is something to be admired. Sérgio Conceição will be delighted to claim his second Primeira Liga title as Porto manager and despite the supporters not being allowed in the stadium to witness the deciding victory, I’m sure the celebrations will go long into the night!
Congratulations to all the players, staff, supporters and everyone connected with FC Porto!
