The start of the 2026-27 Primeira Liga season is rapidly approaching with three familiar clubs in contention to win the title.
Benfica, Porto and Sporting CP have won all but two titles since 1934 and will continue to lead the way in Portugal.
Porto are the defending champions and favourites with Benfica and Sporting CP close behind. Let's take a look at each club, the betting market and pick a winner:
Porto - The Defending Champions
- Manager: Francesco Farioli
- President: André Villas-Boas
- Key Players: Diogo Costa, Jakub Kiwior, Jan Bednarek, Victor Froholdt, Rodrigo Mora, Oskar Pietuszewski, André Silva, Samu Aghehowa
- In: João Afonso (Santa Clara), Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal), In-beom Hwang (Feyenoord), André Silva (Elche)
- Out: Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Luuk de Jong (Released)
Porto won the 2025-26 title in Francesco Farioli's first season in charge. President André Villas-Boas got the appointment spot on alongside a scouting department that had a lot of success in the transfer market.
Farioli's side built their success on a tight defence led by Polish internationals Jakub Kiwior and Jan Bednarek. Diogo Costa kept an impressive 21 clean sheets to prove why is the best goalkeeper in the Liga.
Star striker Samu Aghehowa suffered a season ending injury in February which contrinued to a lack of goals, but the Dragons were still too good and were deserved champions. André Silva has returned to the club and is expected to shine in familiar surroundings.
With a settled squad and managerial stability, it's clear why Porto are favourites to defend their title.
Benfica - New Manager in Charge
- Manager: Marco Silva
- President: Rui Costa
- Key Players: Tomás Araújo, Richard Rios, Fredrik Aursnes, Andreas Schjelderup, Rafa Silva, Vangelis Pavlidis, Jhon Durán
- In: Clément Lenglet (Atlético Madrid), Gabriel Índio (Athletic Club), Enzo Barrenechea (Aston Villa), Georgiy Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Jakub Kamiński (Köln), Jhon Durán (Al Nassr)
- Out: Nicolás Otamendi (River Plate), Florentino Luis (Burnley), Orkun Kökçü (Besiktas), Sidny Lopes Cabral (Trabzonspor)
Benfica slipped to third place last season despite going undefeated. José Mourinho replaced Bruno Lage in September but couldn't turn down the opportunity to rejoin Real Madrid, Marco Silva leaving Fulham to become the new boss.
The Eagles have lost the influential Nicolás Otamendi and António Silva was sold to Bournemouth which places pressure on their central defence. Tomás Araújo will lead the backline alongside Clément Lengle but more reinforcements are required.
José Neto, Daniel Banjaqui and Anísio Cabral are the youngsters coming through but could find it hard to get game time.
Andreas Schjelderup took a big step up last season with the winger becoming a key player. After some impressive performances for Norway at the World Cup, he will be a key player in attack.
Vangelis Pavlidis has led the line for the previous two years but went off the boil from February, bouncing back in the Europa League qualifiers after scoring four goals in the 5-0 home win against St. Gallen.
Jhon Durán has been brought in to provide competition alongside Franjo Ivanović and Anísio Cabral.
Benfica definitely have enough talent to beat most of the teams in the Primeira Liga, but their inability to beat the top teams could be their achilles heel once again.
Sporting Clube de Portugal - High Turnover
- Manager: Rui Borges
- President: Frederico Varandas
- Key Players: Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo, Daniel Bragança, Rodrigo Zalazar, Geny Catamo, Luis Suárez
- In: Ibrahima Ba (Famalicão), Issa Doumbia (Venezia), Sergi Altimira (Real Betis), Silas Andersen (Häcken), Pedro Lima (AVS), Rodrigo Zalazar (Braga), Jesse Derry (Chelsea)
- Out: Diogo Travassos (Braga) Hidemasa Morita (Hull City), Morten Hjulmand (Atlético Madrid), Francisco Trincão (Al Ahli), Alisson Santos (Napoli), Geovany Quenda (Chelsea)
Sporting were unable to make it three straight titles last season despite scoring a Liga high 89 goals, Luis Suárez responsible for 28 of those.
Rui Borges faces a big transition with Hidemasa Morita and Morten Hjulmand gone from the midfield. Geovany Quenda and Francisco Trincão have also left the club with Pedro Gonçalves rimoured to be joining them.
Quenda, Trincão and Pedro Gonçalves combined to contribute 22 goals and 24 assists last season, numbers that are going to be hard to replicate alongside the service provided for Suárez.
Nottingham Forest are close to signing Ousmane Diomande which could be another blow, despite the club signing highly rated youngster Ibrahima Ba.
With such a high turnover of players, it could be difficult for Sporting to win the Liga.
2026-27 Primeira Liga Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Porto |
2.75 |
| Benfica |
3.00 |
| Sporting CP |
3.25 |
| Braga |
15.00 |
| Famalicao |
26.00 |
| Gil Vicente |
41.00 |
| Guimaraes |
41.00 |
| Estoril |
67.00 |
| Rio Ave |
101.00 |
| Moreirense |
101.00 |
| Alverca |
101.00 |
| Arouca |
101.00 |
| Santa Clara |
251.00 |
| Estrela da Amadora |
251.00 |
| Nacional |
251.00 |
| Casa Pia |
251.00 |
| Maritimo |
251.00 |
| Academico Viseu |
501.00 |
Source: Stake.com with odds correct on 30 July 2027
Portuguese Champions, Runners-Up and Third Place
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Porto (31) | Sporting CP | Benfica |
| 2024-25 | Sporting CP (21) | Benfica | Porto |
| 2023-24 | Sporting CP (20) | Benfica | Porto |
| 2022-23 | Benfica (38) | Porto | Braga |
| 2021-22 | Porto (30) | Sporting CP | Benfica |
| 2020-21 | Sporting CP (19) | Porto | Benfica |
| 2019-20 | Porto (29) | Benfica | Braga |
| 2018-19 | Benfica (37) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 2017-18 | Porto (28) | Benfica | Sporting CP |
| 2016-17 | Benfica (36) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 2015-16 | Benfica (35) | Sporting CP | Porto |
| 2014-15 | Benfica (34) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 2013-14 | Benfica (33) | Sporting CP | Porto |
| 2012-13 | Porto (27) | Benfica | Paços de Ferreira |
| 2011-12 | Porto (26) | Benfica | Braga |
| 2010-11 | Porto (25) | Benfica | Sporting CP |
| 2009-10 | Benfica (32) | Braga | Porto |
| 2008-09 | Porto (24) | Sporting CP | Benfica |
| 2007-08 | Porto (23) | Sporting CP | Vitória de Guimarães |
| 2006-07 | Porto (22) | Sporting CP | Benfica |
| 2005-06 | Porto (21) | Sporting CP | Benfica |
| 2004-05 | Benfica (31) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 2003-04 | Porto (20) | Benfica | Sporting CP |
| 2002-03 | Porto (19) | Benfica | Sporting CP |
| 2001-02 | Sporting CP (18) | Boavista | Porto |
| 2000-01 | Boavista | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 1999-20 | Sporting CP (17) | Porto | Benfica |
| 1998-99 | Porto (18) | Boavista | Benfica |
| 1997-98 | Porto (17) | Benfica | Vitória de Guimarães |
| 1996-97 | Porto (16) | Sporting CP | Benfica |
| 1995-96 | Porto (15) | Benfica | Sporting CP |
| 1994-95 | Porto (14) | Sporting CP | Benfica |
| 1993-94 | Benfica (30) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 1992-93 | Porto (13) | Benfica | Sporting CP |
| 1991-92 | Porto (12) | Benfica | Boavista |
| 1990-91 | Benfica (29) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 1989-90 | Porto (11) | Benfica | Sporting CP |
| 1988-89 | Benfica (28) | Porto | Boavista |
| 1987-88 | Porto (10) | Benfica | Belenenses |
| 1986-87 | Benfica (27) | Porto | Vitória de Guimarães |
| 1985-86 | Porto (9) | Benfica | Sporting CP |
| 1984-85 | Porto (8) | Sporting CP | Benfica |
| 1983-84 | Benfica (26) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 1982-83 | Benfica (25) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 1981-82 | Sporting CP (16) | Benfica | Porto |
| 1980-81 | Benfica (24) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 1979-80 | Sporting CP (15) | Porto | Benfica |
| 1978-79 | Porto (7) | Benfica | Sporting CP |
| 1977-78 | Porto (6) | Benfica | Sporting CP |
| 1976-77 | Benfica (23) | Sporting CP | Porto |
| 1975-76 | Benfica (22) | Boavista | Belenenses |
| 1974-75 | Benfica (21) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 1973-74 | Sporting CP (14) | Benfica | Vitória de Setúbal |
| 1972-73 | Benfica (20) | Belenenses | Vitória de Setúbal |
| 1971-72 | Benfica (19) | Vitória de Setúbal | Sporting CP |
| 1970-71 | Benfica (18) | Sporting CP | Porto |
| 1969-70 | Sporting CP (13) | Benfica | Vitória de Setúbal |
| 1968-69 | Benfica (17) | Porto | Vitória de Guimarães |
| 1967-68 | Benfica (16) | Sporting CP | Porto |
| 1966-67 | Benfica (15) | Académica | Porto |
| 1965-66 | Sporting CP (12) | Benfica | Porto |
| 1964-65 | Benfica (14) | Porto | CUF do Barreiro |
| 1963-64 | Benfica (13) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 1962-63 | Benfica (12) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 1961-62 | Sporting CP (11) | Porto | Benfica |
| 1960-61 | Benfica (11) | Sporting CP | Porto |
| 1959-60 | Benfica (10) | Sporting CP | Belenenses |
| 1958-59 | Porto (5) | Benfica | Belenenses |
| 1957-58 | Sporting CP (10) | Porto | Benfica |
| 1956-57 | Benfica (9) | Porto | Belenenses |
| 1955-56 | Porto (4) | Benfica | Belenenses |
| 1954-55 | Benfica (8) | Belenenses | Sporting CP |
| 1953-54 | Sporting CP (9) | Porto | Benfica |
| 1952-53 | Sporting CP (8) | Benfica | Belenenses |
| 1951-52 | Sporting CP (7) | Benfica | Porto |
| 1950-51 | Sporting CP (6) | Porto | Benfica |
| 1949-50 | Benfica (7) | Sporting CP | Atlético CP |
| 1948-49 | Sporting CP (5) | Benfica | Belenenses |
| 1947-48 | Sporting CP (4) | Benfica | Belenenses |
| 1946-47 | Sporting CP (3) | Benfica | Porto |
| 1945-46 | Belenenses | Benfica | Sporting CP |
| 1944-45 | Benfica (6) | Sporting CP | Belenenses |
| 1943-44 | Sporting CP (2) | Benfica | Atlético CP |
| 1942-43 | Benfica (5) | Sporting CP | Belenenses |
| 1941-42 | Benfica (4) | Sporting CP | Belenenses |
| 1940-41 | Sporting CP | Porto | Belenenses |
| 1939-40 | Porto (3) | Sporting CP | Belenenses |
| 1938-39 | Porto (2) | Sporting CP | Benfica |
| 1937-38 | Benfica (3) | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 1936-37 | Benfica (2) | Belenenses | Sporting CP |
| 1935-36 | Benfica | Porto | Sporting CP |
| 1934-35 | Porto | Sporting CP | Benfica |