Portugal returns to the scene

First it was the Bundesliga and now the Primeira NOS. The Portuguese will be the second major European league (the sixth according to the UEFA coefficient) to return to the scene after suffering a break of more than two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And it does so with the general approval of all the actors involved, both at a sports, political and communication level; In few places on the continent were the agreements so fast and the security measures so applauded.

On May 5, the Portuguese federation, together with the organization of the NOS League and the Government of Portugal, agreed that football would only return to play the Taça de Plata final between Benfica and Porto (the date is yet to be finalized) and the eleven remaining days of the Portuguese First Division. The rest of the competitions were canceled and the promotions and descents will be governed according to the classification at the time of the break. For this reason, it is already known that next season CD Nacional and Farense Algarve will play in the Liga NOS. In addition, it was agreed that all the stadiums should receive the approval of the General Directorate of Health to host the matches: 15 of the 18 venues did so, all except those of Moreirense, Santa Clara and Belenenses, which will play their matches in the City of Soccer of Lisbon, place of habitual concentration of the Portuguese selection. All this has been warmly welcomed by all the parties involved and there have been hardly any critical voices regarding the decisions that have been made to resume football.

But let's go back to today. The starting pistol will be given at 20:00 by Portimonense-Gil Vicente in a match in which the locals play half their lives if they want to continue fighting for salvation, who have six points. But the eyes will be especially on the other meeting of the day: Famaliçao-Porto. The dragons, leaders of the NOS League, return to the competition before which was, until the break, the revelation team of Portugal, a recently promoted who was in European positions for almost the entire first round. The Casillas team, which continues to be the link between the players and the board, although it will not return to the playing fields this season (it will probably never be seen short again), is one point above its great historical rival, Benfica, with whom An exciting fight for the title awaits him in the remaining eleven days. Both have already faced each other so there will be no direct duel for the fight of the championship, although there will be in the Cup final. The eagles, meanwhile, return tomorrow against Tondela chaired by the Spanish Luis Belenguer, ex del Betis and Getafe, among others

If Porto and Benfica arrive in a similar situation to matchday 34, the Liga NOS will have a heart-stopping finale. The Lisbon team faces in it their local enemy, Sporting de Portugal, while Porto will face each other with Sporting Braga, third place who already won the Taça de la Liga in February and in which he shines above all Trincao, signed by Barcelona in winter.