# 2009–10 Primeira Liga

The 2009–10 Primeira Liga (also known as the Liga Sagres for sponsorship reasons) was the 76th season of the Primeira Liga, the top professional league for Portuguese association football clubs. It began on 16 August 2009 and ended on 9 May 2010.
Benfica won their 32nd league title after a 2–1 home victory over Rio Ave on the last matchday. Benfica striker Óscar Cardozo was the top scorer with 26 goals.

## Changes from 2008–09
### Team changes

Trofense have been relegated to the Liga de Honra after finishing the 2008–09 season in 16th and last place. Trofense were to be accompanied by Belenenses, who finished in 15th place. Belenenses were ending a ten-year stretch in the Portuguese top-level league, while Trofense returned to the Liga da Honra after just one year in the top flight.
Estrela da Amadora, however, who finished last season in 11th place, have been relegated for economic problems to the Liga Vitalis. Therefore, Belenenses' relegation has been reversed and they will participate in the Liga Sagres once more.
The relegated teams were replaced by Liga Vitalis 2008–09 champions Olhanense and runners-up União de Leiria. Olhanense returned to the top-flight after 34 years, while Leiria was back after a one-year hiatus.

### Structural changes

Based on UEFA coefficients, Portugal finished in tenth place of the UEFA country ranking after the 2008–09 season. As a result, the Portuguese league will lose one qualification spot for the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League. The third-placed team will now qualify for the third qualification round instead of the play-off round. The fourth-placed team will enter the competition in the second qualification round while the fifth place will not initially qualify for any European competitions via league placement. However, this may change during the course of the season depending on the league performance of both 2009–10 Cup of Portugal finalists.

## Team overview
### Stadia and locations

| Club | City | Stadium | Capacity | 2008 Season |
| Académica | Coimbra | Estádio Cidade de Coimbra | 30,210 | 7th in Liga Sagres |
| Belenenses | Lisbon | Estádio do Restelo | 32,500 | 15th in Liga Sagres |
| Benfica | Lisbon | Estádio da Luz | 65,400 | 3rd in Liga Sagres |
| Braga | Braga | Estádio Municipal de Braga | 30,152 | 5th in Liga Sagres |
| Leixões | Matosinhos | Estádio do Mar | 16,035 | 6th in Liga Sagres |
| Marítimo | Funchal | Estádio dos Barreiros | 8,922 | 9th in Liga Sagres |
| Nacional | Funchal | Estádio da Madeira | 5,132 | 4th in Liga Sagres |
| Naval 1º de Maio | Figueira da Foz | Estádio Municipal José Bento Pessoa | 12,630 | 13th in Liga Sagres |
| Olhanense | Olhão | Estádio José Arcanjo | 10,000 | Liga Vitalis champion |
| Paços de Ferreira | Paços de Ferreira | Estádio da Mata Real | 5,255 | 10th in Liga Sagres |
| Porto | Porto | Estádio do Dragão | 50,399 | Liga Sagres champion |
| Rio Ave | Vila do Conde | Estádio dos Arcos | 12,815 | 12th in Liga Sagres |
| Sporting CP | Lisbon | Estádio José Alvalade | 50,080 | 2nd in Liga Sagres |
| União de Leiria | Leiria | Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa | 30,000 | Liga Vitalis runner-up |
| Vitória de Guimarães | Guimarães | Estádio D. Afonso Henriques | 30,165 | 8th in Liga Sagres |
| Vitória de Setúbal | Setúbal | Estádio do Bonfim | 25,000 | 14th in Liga Sagres |

### Personnel and sponsoring

| Team | Captain | Head Coach | Kitmaker | Shirt sponsor |
| Académica | Lito | André Villas-Boas | Lacatoni | Dolce Vita |
| Belenenses | José Pedro | Toni Conceição | Lacatoni | n/a |
| Benfica | Nuno Gomes | Jorge Jesus | Adidas | Front: TMN (home) / MEO (away) | Back: Sagres |
| Braga | Vandinho | Domingos Paciência | Macron | AXA |
| Leixões | Zé Manel | Fernando Castro Santos | Sport Zone | Cepsa |
| Marítimo | Bruno | Mitchell van der Gaag | Lacatoni | BANIF |
| Nacional | Bruno Patacas | Manuel Machado | Legea | BANIF |
| Naval 1º de Maio | Carlitos | Augusto Inácio | Desportreino | Motéis Algarve Sol |
| Olhanense | Toy | Jorge Costa | Sport Zone | n/a |
| Paços de Ferreira | Paulo Sousa | Ulisses Morais | Diadora | Capital do Móveis: Paços de Ferreira |
| Porto | Bruno Alves | Jesualdo Ferreira | Nike | Front: TMN (home) / MEO (away) | Back: Super Bock |
| Rio Ave | José Gaspar | Carlos Brito | Lacatoni | Nassica: Vila do Conde |
| Sporting CP | João Moutinho | Carlos Carvalhal | Puma | Front: TMN (home) / MEO (away) | Back Super Bock |
| União de Leiria | Marco Soares | Lito Vidigal | Legea | n/a |
| Vitória de Guimarães | Flávio Meireles | Paulo Sérgio | Lacatoni | Finibanco |
| Vitória de Setúbal | Sandro | Manuel Fernandes | Lacatoni | n/a |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing | Manner | Date | Table | Incoming | Date |
| Naval 1º de Maio | Ulisses Morais | Sacked | 7 September 2009 | 15th | Augusto Inácio | 12 September 2009 |
| Vitória de Setúbal | Carlos Azenha | Resigned | 14 September 2009 | 16th | Quim$^1$ | 17 September 2009 |
| Marítimo | Carlos Carvalhal | Resigned | 28 September 2009 | 11th | Mitchell van der Gaag | 28 September 2009 |
| Académica | Rogério Gonçalves | Resigned | 3 October 2009 | 16th | Zé Nando$^1$ | 4 October 2009 |
| Vitória de Guimarães | Nelo Vingada | Resigned | 7 October 2009 | 12th | Basílio Marques$^1$ | 8 October 2009 |
| Académica | Zé Nando | Replaced | 13 October 2009 | 16th | André Villas-Boas | 13 October 2009 |
| Vitória de Guimarães | Basílio Marques | Replaced | 13 October 2009 | 12th | Paulo Sérgio | 13 October 2009 |
| Paços de Ferreira | Paulo Sérgio | Left to sign with Vitória de Guimarães | 16 October 2009 | 10th | Ulisses Morais | 16 October 2009 |
| União de Leiria | Manuel Fernandes | Left to sign with Vitória de Setúbal | 19 October 2009 | 9th | Lito Vidigal | 21 October 2009 |
| Vitória de Setúbal | Quim | Replaced | 21 October 2009 | 15th | Manuel Fernandes | 21 October 2009 |
| Sporting CP | Paulo Bento | Resigned | 6 November 2009 | 7th | Leonel Pontes$^1$ | 6 November 2009 |
| Sporting CP | Leonel Pontes | Replaced | 15 November 2009 | 8th | Carlos Carvalhal | 15 November 2009 |
| Nacional | Manuel Machado | Health issues | 30 November 2009 | 4th | José Augusto$^1$ | 30 November 2009 |
| Nacional | José Augusto | Replaced | 13 December 2009 | 4th | Predrag Jokanović$^1$ | 13 December 2009 |
| Belenenses | João Carlos Pereira | Resigned | 21 December 2009 | 16th | Toni Conceição | 23 December 2009 |
| Nacional | Predrag Jokanović | Replaced | 26 January 2010 | 5th | Manuel Machado | 26 January 2010 |
| Leixões | José Mota | Resigned | 9 February 2010 | 15th | Fernando Castro Santos | 9 February 2010 |
$^1$ Interim coach

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Benfica (C) | 30 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 78 | 20 | +58 | 76 | Qualification to Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Braga | 30 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 48 | 20 | +28 | 71 | Qualification to Champions League third qualifying round |
| 3 | Porto | 30 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 70 | 26 | +44 | 68 | Qualification to Europa League play-off round |
| 4 | Sporting CP | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 42 | 26 | +16 | 48 | Qualification to Europa League third qualifying round |
| 5 | Marítimo | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 41 | Qualification to Europa League second qualifying round |
| 6 | Vitória de Guimarães | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 31 | 34 | −3 | 41 | |
| 7 | Nacional | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 36 | 46 | −10 | 39 | |
| 8 | Naval 1º de Maio | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 35 | −15 | 36 | |
| 9 | União de Leiria | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 35 | 41 | −6 | 35 | |
| 10 | Paços de Ferreira | 30 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 32 | 37 | −5 | 35 | |
| 11 | Académica | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 37 | 42 | −5 | 33 | |
| 12 | Rio Ave | 30 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 33 | −11 | 31 | |
| 13 | Olhanense | 30 | 5 | 14 | 11 | 31 | 46 | −15 | 29 | |
| 14 | Vitória de Setúbal | 30 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 29 | 57 | −28 | 25 | |
| 15 | Belenenses (R) | 30 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 23 | 44 | −21 | 23 | Relegation to Liga de Honra |
| 16 | Leixões (R) | 30 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 51 | −26 | 21 | Relegation to Liga de Honra |
* ↑ Porto qualified for the play-off round of 2010–11 UEFA Europa League after winning the 2009–10 Taça de Portugal.
* 1 2 Marítimo ahead of Vitória de Guimarães on head-to-head record; Vitória de Guimarães–Marítimo 1–2, Marítimo–Vitória de Guimarães 0–1.
* 1 2 União de Leiria ahead of Paços de Ferreira on head-to-head record; Paços de Ferreira–União de Leiria 0–1, União de Leiria–Paços de Ferreira 2–1.

### Positions by round

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Académica | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
| Belenenses | 11 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
| Benfica | 9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Braga | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Leixões | 14 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
| Marítimo | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Nacional | 6 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Naval 1º de Maio | 10 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Olhanense | 12 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
| Paços de Ferreira | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Porto | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Rio Ave | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
| Sporting CP | 2 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| União de Leiria | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Vitória de Guimarães | 13 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Vitória de Setúbal | 15 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
* Leader
* 2nd place
* 3rd place

## Results

| Home \ Away | ACA | BEL | BEN | BRA | LEI | MAR | NAC | NAV | OLH | PAÇ | POR | RAV | SCP | ULE | VGU | VSE |
| Académica | | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 |
| Belenenses | 1–2 | | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 5–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 |
| Benfica | 4–0 | 1–0 | | 1–0 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 6–1 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 8–1 |
| Braga | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Leixões | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | | 1–2 | 2–4 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 |
| Marítimo | 0–0 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 1–2 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 |
| Nacional | 4–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Naval 1º de Maio | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| Olhanense | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Paços de Ferreira | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 5–3 |
| Porto | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 |
| Rio Ave | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–5 | 1–2 | 0–1 | | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Sporting CP | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 5–0 | | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| União de Leiria | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 0–1 | 3–3 |
| Vitória de Guimarães | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | | 2–2 |
| Vitória de Setúbal | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–0 | |

## Season statistics
### Top goalscorers

| Position | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Óscar Cardozo | Benfica | 26 |
| 2 | Radamel Falcao | Porto | 25 |
| 3 | Liédson | Sporting CP | 13 |
| 4 | Edgar | Nacional | 12 |
| 4 | Cássio | União de Leiria | 12 |
| 4 | Djalmir | Olhanense | 12 |
| 4 | Albert Meyong | Braga | 12 |
| 8 | Javier Saviola | Benfica | 11 |
| 9 | William | Paços de Ferreira | 10 |
| 9 | Ladji Keita | Vitória de Setúbal | 10 |
Source: Liga Sagres – Top Goalscorers (Portuguese)

## Awards
### Annual awards
#### LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year

The LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year was awarded to David Luiz of Benfica.

#### LPFP Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year

The LPFP Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year was awarded to Fábio Coentrão of Benfica.

#### LPFP Primeira Liga Manager of the Year

The LPFP Primeira Liga Manager of the Year was awarded to Jorge Jesus of Benfica.

#### LPFP Primeira Liga Breakthrough Manager of the Year

The LPFP Primeira Liga Breakthrough Manager of the Year was awarded to André Villas-Boas of Académica.