After a very active summer on the backstage, the main actors of the beautiful game that is football will be back in action in Portugal, with the return of the league, on the same weekend where the Super Cup (Supertaca Candido de Oliveira) is going to be decided in Aveiro, between champions Benfica and Portuguese cup runners up VSC.<\/p>\n
Rui Vitoria\u2019s team has had a pre-season that has made some alarm bells wake up, with the obvious main worry being the fact that Benfica has lost 3 out of 5 of their starters in the back line (including the keeper) from last season, and where most of Benfica\u2019s strength lied. But, without the likes of Ederson, Nelson Semedo or Victor Lindelof, the Eagles seem to be still trying to find their ground, and this match will be extremely important to bring up the morale levels to a more appropriate one for a club that will be defending yet another title this season.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a match where Benfica plays a lot for their beginning of the season, as they are expected to win fairly easily, but losing a title this early in the season, specially a title that you are almost obliged to win to the public eye, might be a problem in morale.<\/p>\n
The Supertaca is played on Saturday, and Sunday is the return of Liga Nos, with one of the title contenders having the honours of playing on the first day. Sporting will travel to newly-promoted Desp. Aves, and much like Benfica, it\u2019s in the defensive side of things that Jorge Jesus\u2019 team has struggled in pre-season. But, the last matches against Fiorentina and Monaco were a bit more promising, and with Bas Dost being now accompanied by Doumbia and the Argentinian Marcos Acuna (Best player in the Argentinian League 2017), if Sporting can get their heads together in the back, and also hold on to players such as William Carvalho or Gelson, the Lions can start the league warning their opponents they have come to get back to title glory.<\/p>\n
FC Porto will be the last of the big to get into action, only next Wednesday, same day where Benfica starts their league. Oddly enough, it was expected that Porto would be the team struggling in preseason, being that Sergio Conceicao is a newly appointed manager, whilst his rivals Rui Vitoria and Jorge Jesus have been at their clubs for two full seasons now. And yet, if there was a team that seemed ready for league fixtures to come sooner rather than later, it was the Dragoes, with Aboubakar, returning from a loan at Besiktas, will spearhead Porto\u2019s attack after the departure of Andre Silva to Italy.<\/p>\n
Below you can find a recap of all the ins and outs in Liga Nos squads, and also a prediction of the starting XI, at least for their starting matches. And now we just have to wait for the ball to, finally, roll<\/p>\n
Ins:<\/strong> Seferovic (Frankfurt), Krovinovic (Rio Ave), Chrien (Viktoria Plzen), Cristi\u00e1n Arango (Millonarios), Bruno Varela (V. Set\u00fabal) e Chris Willock (Arsenal).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Ederson (Manchester City), Linelof (Manchester United), Jovic (Frankfurt), N\u00e9lson Semedo (Barcelona) e Cristi\u00e1n Arango (Desp. Aves).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:\u00a0<\/strong>J\u00falio C\u00e9sar; Andr\u00e9 Almeida, Luis\u00e3o, Jardel e Grimaldo; Salvio, Fejsa, Pizzi e Cervi; Jonas e Seferovic<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Van\u00e1 (Feirense).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Andr\u00e9 Silva (Milan), Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton), Depoitre (Huddersfield), Chidozie (Nantes), R\u00faben Neves (Wolverhampton), Boly (Wolverhampton), Jos\u00e9 Angel (Eibar).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Casillas; Ricardo, Felipe, Marcano e Alex Telles; Danilo; Corona, \u00d3liver e Brahimi; Aboubakar e Soares.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Andr\u00e9 Pinto (Sp. Braga), Piccini (B\u00e9tis), Mattheus Oliveira (Estoril), Battaglia (Sp. Braga), Bruno Fernandes (Sampdoria), Doumbia (Roma), F\u00e1bio Coentr\u00e3o (Real Madrid), Mathieu (Barcelona), Acu\u00f1a (Racing Avellaneda) e Salin (Guingamp).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> R\u00faben Semedo (Villarreal), Jefferson (Sp. Braga), Ricardo Esgaio (Sp. Braga), Joel Campbell (Arsenal), Spalvis (Kaiserslautern), Paulo Oliveira (Eibar), Beto (Goztepe).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Rui Patr\u00edcio; Piccini, Coates, Mathieu e F\u00e1bio Coentr\u00e3o; Gelson, William, Adrien e Marcos Acu\u00f1a; Doumbia e Bas Dost.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Estupi\u00f1an (Once Caldas), Francisco Ramos (FC Porto B) e R\u00faben Oliveira (Feirense).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Bruno Gaspar (Fiorentina), Hern\u00e2ni (FC Porto), Marega (FC Porto), Prince (Amiens), Ruben Ferreira (Desp. Chaves), Bernard (Atl\u00e9tico Madrid), Jo\u00e3o Afonso (C\u00f3rdoba), Ricardo Valente (Mar\u00edtimo).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Miguel Silva; Jo\u00e3o Aur\u00e9lio, Josu\u00e9, Pedr\u00e3o e Konan; Celis e Zungu; H\u00e9lder Ferreira, Hurtado e Raphinha; Estupi\u00f1\u00e1n.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Ra\u00fal Silva (Mar\u00edtimo), Frans\u00e9rgio (Mar\u00edtimo), Dyego Souza (Mar\u00edtimo), Paulinho (Gil Vicente), Sequeira (Nacional), Esgaio e Jefferson (Sporting), Filipe Ferreira (Oliveirense), Rui Silva (Desp. Chaves), Bruno Viana (Olympiakos) e Andr\u00e9 Moreira (Atl. Madrid)<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Cartabia (D. Corunha), Andr\u00e9 Pinto (Sporting), Xeka (Lille), Battaglia (Sporting), Battaglia (Sporting), Alan (end of career), Gamboa (Mar\u00edtimo), Rodrigo Pinho (Mar\u00edtimo), Paulinho (Desp. Chaves), Vel\u00e1zquez (Getafe), Artur Jorge (Mouscron).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Matheus; Esgaio, Ricardo Ferreira, Ra\u00fal e Jefferson; Pedro Santos, Frans\u00e9rgio, Danilo e Wilson Eduardo; Rui Fonte e Hassan.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> F\u00e1bio Pacheco (V. Set\u00fabal), Rick Sena (Cruzeiro), Pablo Santos (Paysandu), Fabr\u00edcio Baiano (Coritiba), Piqueti (Sp. Braga), Bebeto (Moto Club), Ibson (Ermis), Gamboa (Sp. Braga), Rodrigo Pinho (Sp. Braga), Viktor Lundberg (Randers), Everton (Manama Club) e Ricardo Valente (V. Guimar\u00e3es).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Ra\u00fal Silva (Sp. Braga), Frans\u00e9rgio (Sp. Braga), Dyego Sousa (Sp. Braga), Patrick (V. Set\u00fabal out on loan from Benfica), Deyvison (Arouca), Seidi (Sp. Covilh\u00e3), Alex Soares (Omonia), Xavier (Pa\u00e7os Ferreira), Maur\u00edcio (Urawa Red Diamonds).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Charles; Bebeto, Zainadine, Pablo Santos e Lu\u00eds Martins; Gamboa, Erdem Sem e \u00c9ber Bessa; Edgar Costa, Rodrigo Pinho e Ghazaryan.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Nuno Santos (Benfica), Pel\u00e9 (Benfica), Yuri Ribeiro (Benfica), Marc\u00e3o (At. Paranaense), Karamanos (Panionios), \u00d3scar Barreto (Millonarios), Gabrielzinho (Linense) e Francisco Geraldes (loan Sporting).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Roderick (Wolverhampton), Krovinovic (Benfica), Gil Dias (M\u00f3naco), Traor\u00e9 (M\u00f3naco); Gon\u00e7alo Paci\u00eancia (V. Set\u00fabal out on loan from FC Porto), Rafa (FC Porto), Vilas Boas (End of career), Pedrinho (Desp. Aves), Kizito (Al Nassr), Jebor (CSM Politehnica) e Heldon (Sporting).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> C\u00e1ssio; Lionn, Marc\u00e3o, Marcelo e Bruno Teles; Tarantini e Francisco Geraldes; Gabrielzinho, R\u00faben Ribeiro e Nuno Santos; Guedes.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Kiki (Olhanense), Bruno Nascimento (Omonia), Gustavo Ermel (Figueirense), Alphonse (Gil Vicente), Z\u00e9 Pedro (Sanjoanense), Ant\u00f3nio Brise\u00f1o (Veracruz), Lu\u00eds Henrique (Atl. Paranaense), Jos\u00e9 Valencia (Independiente Santa F\u00e9) e Caio Secco;<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> V\u00edtor Bruno (Boavista), Platiny (Desp. Chaves), Pe\u00e7anha (AC. Viseu), Pel\u00e9 (Rio Ave), Ricardo Dias (Belenenses), Karamanos (Panionios), Van\u00e1 (FC Porto).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Caio Secco; Jean Sony, Fl\u00e1vio Ramos, Bruno Nascimento e Kakuba; Cris, Babanco e Tiago Silva; Lu\u00eds Machado, Jos\u00e9 Val\u00eancia e Etebo.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> V\u00edtor Bruno (Feirense), Assis (Leix\u00f5es), Raphael Rossi (Swindon Town, Inglaterra), Alex Rodriguez (Wellington Phoenix, da Nova Zel\u00e2ndia), Raphael Spiegel (West Ham), St\u00e9phane Sparagna (Marselha), Mateus (Arouca); Yusupha Njie (Rabat), Tahar (Gaz Metan), Ricardo Clarke (Zamora), Robson (Esporte Bahia) e Leonardo Ruiz (loan Sporting).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Anderson Correia (Nea Salamis Chp), Anderson Carvalho (FC Tosno), Carlos Santos, Digas, Id\u00e9, Iuri Medeiros (Sporting), Lucas Tagliapietra (LDU Quinto), Mbala, Mohamed Daf, Schembri (Apollon Limassol), Tengarrinha (Politehnica (Iasi), Philipe Sampaio (Akhmat Grozny), Lovro Medic, Mickael Meira, Id\u00e9 Colubali (FK Jerv)<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Vagner; Edu Machado, Rossi, Sparagna e Talocha; Idris e Tahar; Renato Santos, F\u00e1bio Espinho e Ricardo Clarke; Leonardo Ruiz.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Jorman Aguilar (Olhanense), Aylton Boa Morte (Salgueiros), Lucas Evangelista (Udinese), Jo\u00e3o Grugel (1\u00ba Dezembro), Pedro Monteiro (Sp. Braga) e Wesley (Paysand\u00fa).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Bazelyuk (CSKA Moscovo), Mattheus Oliveira (Sporting), Lic\u00e1 (Nottingham Forest), Jo\u00e3o Afonso (C\u00f3rdoba), Diogo Amado (Al Gharafa), Bruno Gomes, Yartchuk (Leix\u00f5es), Ailton (Estugarda), Afonso Taira (Hapoel Kiryat Shmona), Dankler (Lens).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Moreira; Mano, Pedro Monteiro, Gon\u00e7alo Brand\u00e3o e Joel; Allano, Eduardo, Lucas Evangelista e Andr\u00e9 Claro; Kl\u00e9ber e Carlinhos.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Wilmar Jordan (CSKA Sofia), Furlan e Foguinho (Gr\u00e9mio An\u00e1polis) e Lu\u00eds Castro (Rio Ave), Platiny (Feirense), Anderson Concei\u00e7\u00e3o (S\u00e3o Bernardo), Tiago Galv\u00e3o (Borac Cacak), Paulinho (Sp. Braga), Ruben Ferreira (V. Guimar\u00e3es), Kuspiosz (S\u00e3o Martinho), Jefferson (Hajduk Split), Filipe Melo (Sheffield Wednesday), Domingos Duarte (loan Sporting), Matheus Pereira (loan Sporting), Jorginho Intima (loan Saint-\u00c9tienne).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Petrovic, N\u00e9lson Lenho (Desp. Aves), F\u00e1bio Martins (Sp. Braga), Rafael Lopes (Omonia); Jo\u00e3o M\u00e1rio (Ac. Viseu).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Ricardo Nunes; Paulinho, Domingos Duarte, Nuno Andr\u00e9 Coelho e R\u00faben Ferreira; Pedro Tiba, Filipe Melo e Bressan; Perdig\u00e3o, Wilmar Jord\u00e1n e Matheus Pereira.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Willyan (Nacional), Rafinha (Amarante), Tom\u00e1s Podstawski (FC Porto B), Allef (Real de Massam\u00e1), Jo\u00e3o Teixeira (loan pelo Benfica), Miguel L\u00e1zaro (Benfica Castelo Branco), Cristiano (Belenenses), Patrick (loan Benfica), C\u00e9sar (emprestado pelo Benfica), Gon\u00e7alo Paci\u00eancia (loan FC Porto) e Ilija Vukotic (Grabalj).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> F\u00e1bio Pacheco (Mar\u00edtimo), F\u00e1bio Cardoso (Glasgow Rangers), Thiago Santana (Santa Clara), Meyong (end of career), Jo\u00e3o Carvalho (Benfica), Diego Silva (rescis\u00e3o).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Pedro Trigueira; Patrick, Frederico Ven\u00e2ncio, Vasco Fernandes e Nuno Pinto; Costinha, Tom\u00e1s Podstawski e Jo\u00e3o Teixeira; Jo\u00e3o Amaral, Edinho e Willyan.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Dylan MacGowan (Adelaide United), H\u00eandrio (Varzim), Gian (U. Madeira), Xavier (Mar\u00edtimo), Andr\u00e9 Le\u00e3o (Valladolid), Awer Mabil (Midtjylland), Qui\u00f1ones (Junior Barranquilla).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Minhoca (Santa Clara), Romeu Rocha (Varzim), C\u00edcero (Arouca), Ivo Rodrigues (Royal Antu\u00e9rpia out on loan from FC Porto), Geg\u00e9 (Al-Feiha), Filipe Melo (Desp. Chaves), Pedro Monteiro (Estoril), Ricardo Valente (Mar\u00edtimo), Christian (Nacional).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Defendi; Bruno Santos, Ricardo, Baixinho e Filipe Ferreira; Andr\u00e9 Le\u00e3o e Vasco Rocha; Medeiros, Pedrinho e Xavier; Bruno Moreira.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Fredy ( Excelsior ), Filipe Chaby (Sporting), Muriel (Internacional), Sasso (Sheffield Wednesday), Femi Balogun (Desp. Aves), Merlin Tandjigora (Meizhou Hakka), Jesus Hernandez (Deportivo Lara), Bruno Pereirinha (Atl. Paranaense), Cleylton Santos (S\u00e3o Paulo-RS) e Roni Rodrigues (loan S\u00e3o Paulo).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Edgar I\u00e9 (Lille), Cristiano (V. Set\u00fabal), Abel Camar\u00e1, Domingos Duarte, Rosell (Sporting), F\u00e1bio Nunes.<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Muriel Becker; Jo\u00e3o Diogo, Vicent Sasso, Gon\u00e7alo Silva e Florent Hanin; Hassan Yebda, Tandjigora e Andr\u00e9 Sousa; Diogo Viana, Maurides e Roni Rodrigues.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Koffi Kouao (ex-Vizela), Bruno Silva (ex-Gil Vicente), Jhonder Cadiz (ex-Nacional), N’sor Kwame (ex-Uni\u00e3o da Madeira), Iago Santos (Dibba Al-Hisn), Mohamed Aberhoune (T\u00e9tuoan), R\u00faben Lima (U. Madeira), Ars\u00e9nio (CSKA Sofia), Alfa Semedo (Vilafranquense), Jhonatan (Joinville), Rafael Costa (RB Brasil), Ronaldo Pe\u00f1a (Las Palmas), Belkaroui (Esperan\u00e7a de Tunes), Bruno Ramires (Cruzeiro, loan) e Elsinho (\u00c1guias da Musgueira).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Taborda (end of career), Jander, Diego Galo (Desp. Aves), Nildo Petrolina (Desp. Aves), Rebocho (Guingamp), Marcelo Oliveira (Santa Clara), Cau\u00ea (Omiya Ardija), Roberto (Salernitana)<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Jhonatan; Sagna, Andr\u00e9 Micael, Mohamed e R\u00faben Lima; Alfa Semedo, Rafael Costa e Ars\u00e9nio; Ernest, Boateng e Fati.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Jo\u00e3ozinho (Kortrjik), Tembeng (ES S\u00e9tif), Jo\u00e3o Vasco (Mort\u00e1gua), Mateusz Zacharaa (Wisla Crac\u00f3via), Ricardo Costa (Luzern); Nick Ansell (Melbourne Victory), Tyler Boyd (V. Guimar\u00e3es, loan\u00a0), Junior Pius (Sanjoanense), Joca (Sp. Braga B, loan\u00a0), Fahd Moufi (Sedan) e Toman\u00e9 (Arouca).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Pica (Ac. Viseu), Kak\u00e1 (Varzim), Fernando Ferreira (Ac. Viseu), Lystcov (Benfica), Mamadu Cand\u00e9 (Omonia); Jhon Murillo (Kasimpasa out on loan from Benfica<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Cl\u00e1udio Ramos; David Bruno, Osorio, Ricardo Costa e Jo\u00e3ozinho; Claude Gon\u00e7alves e H\u00e9lder Tavares; Wagner, Pedro Nuno e Murilo; Heliardo.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Rui Costa (Varzim), Wellington (Penafiel) e Hackman (Boavista), In\u00e1cio (FC Porto, loan), Felipe Macedo (Goi\u00e1s) e R\u00faben Fernandes (Sint-Truiden).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Brendon (Acad\u00e9mica), Lu\u00eds Zambujo, Gleison (Penafiel), Amilton (Desp. Aves).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Ricardo Ferreira; Ricardo Pessoa; Lucas, Felipe Macedo e Lumor Agbenyenu; Fabr\u00edcio, Paulinho e Pedro S\u00e1; Ewerton, Wellington e Bruno Tabata.<\/p>\n Ins:<\/strong> Diego Galo (Moreirense), Nildo Petrolina (Moreirense), Bruno Braga (Desp. Chaves), Adriano Facchini (Nacional), Valdeir Souza (Salgueiro), Federico Falcone(Terengganu), Gon\u00e7alo Santos (D\u00ednamo Zagreb), Youssouf Sow (Louletano), Rodrigo (Desp. Chaves); Pedrinho (Rio Ave), V\u00edtor Gomes (Belenenses), Jos\u00e9 Ricardo Avelar (Rayo Vallecano B), Washington (Nacional), N\u00e9lson Lenho (Desp. Chaves), Sami (Arouca), Salvador Agra (Benfica, loan), Rodrigo Defendi (Maribor); Mama Bald\u00e9 (Sporting B), Amilton (Portimonense), Ricardo Mangas (Benfica B), Ryan Gauld (Sporting, loan) ,Carlos Ponck (Benfica, loan), Derley (Benfica) e Cristi\u00e1n Arango (Benfica, loan).<\/p>\n Outs:<\/strong> Romaric (U. Madeira), Femi Balogun (Belenenses), Ericson e Jo\u00e3o Amorim (Arouca), Tiago Valente (Varzim), Huns (Sp. Covilh\u00e3), Bruno Alves (Arouca), Yaya Bamba (Nacional), Lu\u00eds Barry (Ac. Viseu), Caetano (Penafiel).<\/p>\n Predicted XI:<\/strong> Adriano Facchini; Rodrigo, Diego Galo, Carlos Ponck e N\u00e9lson Lenho; Washington, Braga e Nildo Petrolina; Amilton, Alexandre Guedes e Salvador Agra.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After a very active summer on the backstage, the main actors of the beautiful game that is football will be back in action in Portugal, with the return of the league, on the same weekend where the Super Cup (Supertaca Candido de Oliveira) is going to be decided in Aveiro, between champions Benfica and Portuguese […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":148,"featured_media":23480,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1232],"tags":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nFC PORTO<\/strong><\/h3>\n
SPORTING<\/strong><\/h3>\n
V. GUIMAR\u00c3ES<\/strong><\/h3>\n
SP. BRAGA<\/strong><\/h3>\n
MAR\u00cdTIMO<\/strong><\/h3>\n
RIO AVE<\/strong><\/h3>\n
FEIRENSE<\/strong><\/h3>\n
BOAVISTA<\/strong><\/h3>\n
ESTORIL<\/strong><\/h3>\n
DESP. CHAVES<\/strong><\/h3>\n
V. SET\u00daBAL<\/strong><\/h3>\n
PA\u00c7OS FERREIRA<\/strong><\/h3>\n
BELENENSES<\/strong><\/h3>\n
MOREIRENSE<\/strong><\/h3>\n
TONDELA<\/strong><\/h3>\n
PORTIMONENSE<\/strong><\/h3>\n
DESP. AVES<\/strong><\/h3>\n