The 2019–20 Primeira Liga (also known as Liga NOS for sponsorship reasons) was the 86th season of the Primeira Liga, the top professional league for Portuguese association football clubs. The season started on 9 August 2019 and was finished on 26 July 2020.
Benfica were the defending champions, after winning their 37th league title in the previous season. Paços de Ferreira and Famalicão were promoted from the second-tier 2018–19 LigaPro, while Gil Vicente were promoted directly from the third-tier 2018–19 Campeonato de Portugal by court decision. They replaced Chaves, Nacional and Feirense, who were relegated to the 2019–20 LigaPro.
On 12 March 2020, the Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional (LPFP) suspended the Primeira Liga due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal. Following the government's approval, the league resumed play on 3 June, with matches of the remaining ten matchdays taking place behind closed doors.
On 15 July 2020, Porto secured their 29th league title with two matches remaining after defeating Sporting CP 2–0 at home.
After the end of the season, on 26 July, Desportivo das Aves and Portimonense were relegated to the 2020–21 LigaPro. However, two days later, Desportivo das Aves and Vitória de Setubal were relegated to the 2020–21 Campeonato de Portugal by decision of the Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional ("LPFP") after both clubs failed to meet the necessary requirements to obtain a licence for registration to participate in professional domestic competitions.
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal, on 10 March 2020, the LPFP announced that all fixtures on matchday 24 (6–8 March) would be played behind closed doors following the Portuguese government to suspend events in open spaces with more than 5,000 people, as well as events behind closed doors with more than 1,000 participants, until 3 April. Two days later, the LPFP suspended the Primeira Liga and LigaPro until further notice because of effects of the coronavirus pandemic in Portugal. The decision was taken following the Portuguese Football Federation ("FPF")'s announcement of suspending their own non-professional football and futsal competitions and also due to an emergency meeting between the Sindicato dos Jogadores Profissionais de Futebol ("SJPF"), the LPFP and the FPF to monitor the situation, in view of the proposal to suspend all sports competitions, which the SJPF added that in case of infection, there would be an aggravated loss. Shortly after, LPFP president Pedro Proença met with several presidents of Primeira Liga's clubs to assess the impact of the stoppage of professional championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He revealed a COVID-19 economic support plan to support the treasury of various clubs in the Primeira Liga and LigaPro. Afterwards, the LPFP announced the creation of an Economic Impact Monitoring Group that would be responsible for presenting measures to support the clubs that competed in the Primeira Liga and LigaPro. The FPF also opened a credit line to support the finances of non-professional football and futsal clubs in the amount of one million euros to minimize the effects of the pandemic on their finances.
On 28 April, Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa reunited with the presidents of the "Big Three" clubs in Portugal (S.L. Benfica, Sporting CP and FC Porto), the president of the FPF and the president of the LPFP to discuss the conditions of the return of football in Portugal. The reunion caused some controversy for some Primeira Liga clubs such as Braga and Vitória de Guimarães, who were not satisfied that only the "Big Three" clubs were the only ones invited to the discussion, and instead believed all Primeira Liga clubs should have been invited. Two days later, António Costa approved the return of the league, with all matches being resumed behind closed doors following the consent of the Portuguese Ministry of Health.
On 11 May, it was announced that several teams in the Primeira Liga had players tested positive for COVID-19, with Benfica having a player from its reserve team to be infected, followed by three players from Famalicão, Moreirense and Vitória de Guimarães that were sent home and were isolated from the rest of their respective teams. On 20 May, LPFP president Pedro Proença president proposed that following the restart of the league, the matches played should be shown on the free-to-air television station RTP in Portugal instead of the pay TV subscriptions, with the backing of the Portuguese government. However, this proposal caused some controversy with the league's main sponsor, NOS, and several other sponsors, as well as various other clubs in the league, most notably Benfica and Porto. This prompted rumours that Proença could be forced to end his term prematurely, rumours Proença later dismissed. Later that month, Benfica left the board of LPFP due to the controversy.
On 14 May, after a meeting of all clubs, five substitutions will be permitted, which was temporarily allowed by IFAB following a proposal by FIFA to lessen the impact of fixture congestion. On 22 May, the LPFP announced that the league would be resumed on 3 June. On 27 May, it was announced that one of the assistant referees for a league match between Benfica and Marítimo had tested positive for COVID-19, leading him to be replaced by another referee for the scheduled league match.
On 30 May, the LPFP approved a plan to resume the league, but during the reunion between all clubs of the league, Marítimo refused to accept the five substitutions rules, leading the rule to be accepted on 8 June by the LPFP despite Marítimo's refusal.
Teams Eighteen teams competed in the league – the top fifteen teams from the previous season, the two teams promoted from the LigaPro (Paços de Ferreira and Famalicão) and one team promoted directly from the third-tier Campeonato de Portugal (Gil Vicente). Paços de Ferreira came back to the top division one season after being relegated, while Famalicão secured their return after a 25-year absence. Gil Vicente, having been relegated to the third-level of Portuguese football in the 2018–19 season, were reinstated in the Primeira Liga by court decision, five years after their last participation. These three teams replaced Chaves, Feirense (both relegated after three years in the top flight), and Nacional (relegated one season after their promotion).
Stadia and locations
Team Location Stadium Capacity2018–19 Belenenses SAD Oeiras Estádio Nacional 37,593 9th Benfica Lisbon Estádio da Luz 64,642 1st Boavista Porto Estádio do Bessa 28,263 8th Braga Braga Estádio Municipal de Braga 30,286 4th Desportivo das Aves Vila das Aves Estádio do CD Aves 6,230 14th Famalicão Vila Nova de Famalicão Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho 5,307 2nd (LP) Gil Vicente Barcelos Estádio Cidade de Barcelos 12,504 *(CP) Marítimo Funchal Estádio do Marítimo 10,932 12th Moreirense Moreira de Cónegos Parque de Jogos ComendadorJoaquim de Almeida Freitas 6,153 6th Paços de Ferreira Paços de Ferreira Estádio Capital do Móvel 9,076 1st (LP) Portimonense Portimão Estádio Municipal de Portimão 6,204 11th Porto Porto Estádio do Dragão 50,033 2nd Rio Ave Vila do Conde Estádio dos Arcos 9,065 7th Santa Clara Ponta Delgada Estádio de São Miguel 12,000 10th Sporting CP Lisbon Estádio José Alvalade 50,095 3rd Tondela Tondela Estádio João Cardoso 5,000 15th Vitória de Guimarães Guimarães Estádio D. Afonso Henriques 30,000 5th Vitória de Setúbal Setúbal Estádio do Bonfim 15,720 13th
Personnel and sponsors Team Manager(s) Captain Kit Manufacturer Main Sponsor Belenenses SAD Petit Gonçalo Silva Lacatoni Kia Motors Benfica Nélson Veríssimo Jardel Adidas Emirates Boavista Daniel Ramos Idris PlayGround Stars VITO Tools Braga Artur Jorge Fransérgio Hummel Betano Desportivo das Aves Nuno Manta Santos Afonso Figueiredo Lacatoni AMCO Credit Famalicão João Pedro Sousa Rafael Defendi Macron Porminho Gil Vicente Vítor Oliveira Rúben Fernandes Lacatoni Las Kasas Marítimo José Gomes Edgar Costa Nike - Moreirense Ricardo Soares João Aurélio CDT - Paços de Ferreira Pepa Pedrinho Joma Aldro Energy Portimonense Paulo Sérgio Jadson Mizuno McDonald's Porto Sérgio Conceição Danilo Pereira New Balance MEO Rio Ave Carlos Carvalhal Tarantini Nike MEO Santa Clara João Henriques Osama Rashid Nike Santander Bank Sporting CP Ruben Amorim Sebastián Coates Macron NOS Tondela Natxo González Cláudio Ramos CDT Cabriz Vitória de Guimarães Ivo Vieira Pedro Henrique Macron - Vitória de Setúbal Lito Vidigal Vasco Fernandes Hummel SGS Car
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Date of vacancy Pos in table Incoming manager Date of appointment Paços de Ferreira Filó Sacked 2 September 2019 18th Pepa 2 September 2019 Sporting CP Marcel KeizerMutual consent3 September 20197th Leonel Pontes (caretaker)3 September 2019Belenenses SAD SilasSacked5 September 201917th Pedro Ribeiro13 September 2019Sporting CP Leonel Pontes (caretaker)End of caretaker role25 September 20199th Silas26 September 2019Aves Augusto InácioSacked21 October 201918th Leandro Pires (Caretaker)21 October 2019Vitória de Setúbal Sandro MendesSacked27 October 201914th Albert Meyong (caretaker)30 October 2019Vitória de Setúbal Albert Meyong (caretaker)End of caretaker role11 November 201912th Julio Velázquez11 November 2019 Marítimo Nuno Manta SantosMutual consent11 November 201914th José Gomes14 November 2019Aves Leandro Pires (Caretaker)End of caretaker role13 November 201918th Nuno Manta Santos13 November 2019 Moreirense Vítor CampelosMutual consent16 December 201911th Ricardo Soares18 December 2019 Boavista Lito VidigalSacked17 December 20198th Daniel Ramos18 December 2019Braga Ricardo Sá PintoSacked23 December 201910th Ruben Amorim27 December 2019Belenenses SAD Pedro RibeiroResigned12 January 202017th Petit15 January 2020 Portimonense António FolhaResigned18 January 202017th Bruno Lopes Joaquim Rolão Preto19 January 20206 February 2020 Portimonense Bruno Lopes Joaquim Rolão Preto End of caretaker role 10 February 202017th Paulo Sérgio10 February 2020Oficializada chegada de Paulo SérgioSporting CP SilasMutual consent3 March 20204th Ruben Amorim5 March 2020Braga Ruben AmorimSigned by Sporting CP5 March 20203rd Custódio5 March 2020Benfica Bruno LageResigned29 June 20202nd Nélson Veríssimo30 June 2020Braga CustódioResigned1 July 20204th Artur Jorge1 July 2020Vitória de Setúbal Julio VelázquezMutual consent2 July 202015th Albert Meyong (caretaker)2 July 2020Vitória de Setúbal Albert Meyong (caretaker)End of caretaker role5 July 202015th Alexandre Santana5 July 2020
League table
Positions by round
The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards.
Results
Statistics
Top goalscorers Rank Player Club Goals1 Mehdi TaremiRio Ave18 Carlos ViníciusBenfica PizziBenfica 4 PaulinhoBraga 17 5 Fábio AbreuMoreirense 136 Moussa MaregaPorto12 Fábio MartinsFamalicão Ricardo HortaBraga9 Alex TellesPorto11 Douglas TanquePaços de Ferreira
Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDate Zé LuísPortoVitória de Setúbal4–0 (H)17 August 2019 Mehdi TaremiRio AveAves5–1 (H)24 August 2019 PaulinhoBragaPaços de Ferreira5–1 (A)10 July 2020 Notes (H) – Home team(A) – Away team
Top assists Rank Player Club Assists1 PizziBenfica142 Jesús CoronaPorto113 OtávioPorto94 Alex TellesPorto8 Bruno TabataPortimonense6 Bruno FernandesSporting CP7 PaulinhoBraga8 Álex GrimaldoBenfica6 LincolnSanta Clara Carlos ManéRio Ave Carlos ViníciusBenfica Fábio MartinsFamalicão Ricardo EsgaioBraga
Clean sheets