Top after four games: only twice did it mean the title | OneFootball

With the national teams on break and FC Porto isolated at the top of the Primeira Liga after defeating Sporting, it's worth recalling how the standings looked after the fourth round in the last four seasons.

Let's examine the top four teams at the start of each season and see if a stronger start actually corresponded to winning the title.

Starting with the two-time champion Sporting: in the season where they aim for a third consecutive title, the lions won their first three matches, but were then halted by a 2-1 defeat in the classic against FC Porto at Alvalade. Sporting is in third place, three points behind the dragons and one point behind Famalicão, and could still be overtaken by Benfica, who have one game in hand. SC Braga, led by Carlos Vicens, is in sixth position (two wins and two draws).

In the previous season, the lions had a spectacular start: under the command of Ruben Amorim, they achieved four victories, scoring 16 goals and conceding only two, which placed them at the top of the table. This sequence extended until the 12th round and ultimately culminated in the second consecutive championship.

The past season partially repeated the pattern, as the lions hosted the dragons in the fourth round and won 2-0. Vítor Bruno, then FC Porto's coach, also saw a positive streak interrupted after three league wins and four across all competitions, following the victory in the Super Cup over Sporting in a memorable comeback.

Matchday 4 of the previous season also marked Roger Schmidt's farewell from managing Benfica, after a draw at Moreirense. The eagles were in a modest seventh place, with two wins, one draw, and one loss.

SC Braga was slightly higher, in sixth place, with two wins and two draws – the same position they hold in the 25/26 season at the fourth round.

At the start of 23/24, Boavista surprisingly led the competition after four games. They were followed by FC Porto and Sporting, with three wins and one draw, while Benfica already had one loss, precisely against the checkered team (3-2 at Bessa). The Bracarenses appeared in seventh, with two wins, one draw, and one loss.

Boavista's good start ended up not having much weight, as the club almost got relegated and finished the season in 15th place, just one above the playoff position.

Sporting eventually became champions that season, with a 10-point lead over Benfica, 18 over FC Porto, and 22 over SC Braga.

22/23

In the year of 'Schmidotology', which culminated in the title for the eagles, Benfica started the season with four wins, 11 goals scored, and only two conceded. SC Braga was second, with three wins and one draw, highlighted by a robust victory in Arouca. FC Porto was surprised by Rio Ave (3-1 defeat). Sporting started hesitantly, with two draws and two losses – the last one against Chaves (0-2). In that round, the eagles defeated Boavista (0-3) and opened a lead over their rivals.

By the end of the season, Sporting's poor start resulted in a fourth-place finish. Benfica won the league with 87 points, two more than FC Porto, who were nine points ahead of SC Braga and 13 points above their Second Circular rival.

21/22

In 21/22, it was FC Porto who smiled at the end of the championship, although Benfica had started better with four consecutive wins. FC Porto had three victories by the end of the fourth round. Sporting was in third, with three wins and already one loss suffered in the classic against SC Braga (2-1) in the second round. The Bracarenses occupied fifth place, with two wins, one draw, and one loss.

Sporting finished second with 85 points, six behind champion FC Porto. Benfica was third with 74 points, followed by SC Braga with 65.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.