2017–18 Primeira Liga
The 2017–18 Primeira Liga (also known as Liga NOS for sponsorship reasons) was the 84th season of the Primeira Liga, the top professional league for Portuguese association football clubs. Benfica were the defending champions for a fourth consecutive time, but they did not retain the title. Porto became the new champions with two matches to spare, clinching their 28th league title. This was their first trophy in four years. Since Portugal dropped from fifth to seventh place in the UEFA association coefficient rankings at the end of 2016–17 season, only the two best-ranked teams could qualify  for the UEFA Champions League (the champions entered directly into the group stage, and the runners-up entered the third qualifying round). The third and fourth-placed teams qualified respectively to the UEFA Europa League third and second qualifying rounds. Teams. Eighteen teams competed in the league – the top sixteen teams from the 2016–17 season, as well as two teams promoted from the LigaPro. Portimonense became the first club to be promoted on 23 April 2017 and will play in Primeira Liga for the first time since the 2010–11 season. On 21 May 2017, after a 2–1 win in Azores  against Santa Clara, they were crowned champions. The other team promoted were runners-up Desportivo das Aves, following a 2–2 draw against União da Madeira on 30 April 2017. This will mark the return of the Vila das Aves' team to the top flight after a 10-season absence. The two promoted clubs replaced Nacional and Arouca. Nacional confirmed their relegation on 5 May 2017, 15 years after their promotion, when Moreirense, who were also struggling to escape relegation, beat Braga. On the last matchday, Arouca's 4–2 defeat against Estoril sealed their relegation, four seasons after having been promoted  for the first time to Primeira Liga. Player scored 4 goals Awards. Annual awards. Liga Portugal. Player of the Season. The Player of the Season was awarded to Bruno Fernandes (Sporting CP). Manager of the Season. The Manager of the Season was awarded to Sérgio Conceição (Porto). Goal of the Season. The Goal of the Season was awarded to Rodrigo Pinho (Marítimo), against Tondela on 28 October 2017. Team of the Season. The Team of the Season was: Young Player of the Season. The Young Player of the Year was awarded to Rúben Dias (Benfica). Club Fair-Play Prize. The  Club Fair-Play Prize was awarded to Chaves. Player Fair-Play Prize. The Player Fair-Play Prize was awarded to Casillas (Porto). Goal of the season. The goal of the season was disputed by all the previous winners of the monthly polls.