Primeira Liga Betting – Best Picks, Odds, Predictions
The Portuguese Primeira Liga is one of the more underrated leagues in the world of soccer, as it has been responsible for developing world-class talent over the years. The product on the field is just as good as the ability of the league to create stars, making the action on the pitch more than worth a glance. As a result, Primeira Liga betting is some of the most popular action outside of the top-four soccer leagues in the world.
While this league may not receive the attention that nearby Spain’s top-flight does, there’s still a lot to like about betting on Portuguese footy.
Best Sportsbooks to Bet on Primeira Liga
With Portugal’s Primeira Liga being one of the top club soccer leagues in Europe and the world, there’s considerable interest in Primeira Liga betting. Fortunately, you’re able to place bets on the Primeira Liga at a multitude of sportsbooks, including some of the best bookmakers in the industry today.
Here’s a list of the best sportsbooks with which you can do your Primeira Liga betting throughout each season in Portugal.
Primeira Liga Previous Season Recap
Last season, one of the perennial Primeira Liga betting favorites came through and won the league title. Sporting CP earned 85 points last season, losing just one match over the entire season, to finish ahead of Porto, Benfica, and the rest of a competitive field. That championship season was Sporting’s first since the 2001-2002 season, breaking an extended title drought for one of the big three clubs in Portugal.
The other two Primeira Liga betting favorites going into each season finished second and third behind Sporting in the table. Porto finished in second place in the league on 80 points, losing just one more game than Sporting on the season. Both teams had equal +45 goal difference on the year, but Sporting finished with two more wins to separate the two sides to the tune of the league title.
Benfica finished in third place on 76 points, which was a distant third given how well Sporting played in the 2020-2021 season. The Portuguese powerhouse lost four matches last season, which put them in a position to where they had to be near-perfect the rest of the way. They were unable to make up that lost ground, and will have to hope for better in 2021-2022.
On the other side of the table, three teams were relegated from the Primeira Liga last season. Nacional, Farense, and Rio Ave were sent down to Liga Portugal 2, with Nacional and Farense being automatically relegated with the two worst point totals in the league. Rio Ave missed their chance to protect their spot in the league, losing in the relegation playoff to relinquish their place.
Summer 2021 Transfer Window Recap
The transfer window isn’t a huge factor in Primeira Liga betting each season, as the Portuguese top-flight is more of a seller’s league than a buyer’s league. Over the last decade, the first division in Portugal has been the most profitable league in terms of soccer transfers. It’s been responsible for players like Ruben Dias and Ederson going to teams in other elite leagues in Europe, often at high prices that benefit the Portuguese clubs immensely.
In 2021, top clubs in Portugal sent players to mainstream leagues around Europe. Benfica alone, for example, sent players to England, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, and Scotland all in the summer. There were a few notable incoming transfers going into the 2021-2022 season, though, that could make an impact on Primeira Liga betting markets by the end of the season.
Benfica signed João Mário and Gil Dias from Inter Milan and Monaco, respectively, with those two Portuguese players returning to home soil. Pablo Sarabia came on loan from Paris Saint-Germain to join the defending champions Sporting CP, along with João Virginia from Everton. While these are by no means earth-shattering signings, they’re fine for a league where the primary transfer goal is selling.
Winter 2022 Transfer Window Recap
Generally speaking, the Portuguese Primeira Liga is a league known more for selling players than buying players. The biggest teams in this league tend to turn a profit in the transfer market, while leagues like the Premier League see huge deficits when dealing with the transfer market. That does not mean that Portuguese clubs do not try to make moves to bring in players that can help their championship prospects, though.
One of the biggest winter moves in Portugal came from Sporting, which brought Islam Slimani in on a free transfer from Lyon of Ligue 1. Slimani is not a club-changing player at this stage of his career but is a steady hand that should be able to help in this year’s title race. He was a part of the Leicester City team that won the most historic title in the history of the Premier League and could have plenty of value to a team vying for the title here.
Porto had the most expensive signing of the winter transfer window among Portuguese sides, as they brought in Galeno from Braga. Galeno had spent time with Porto’s B team in the past and notched eight goals in just under 50 appearances for Braga before this move was made. Now Porto is hoping that Galeno can come back and help the club with whom he has had history.
Who are Favorites to Win Primeira Liga this Season?
The Primeira Liga betting favorites this season are the same three teams as usual, as this league is dominated by Sporting, Porto, and Benfica.
As you saw from last year’s results, the margin for error for these three teams is tiny, as four losses can be enough to finish close to double digits behind the champion. Coming into this season, Porto may have the best chance to come through the season with the title based on the fixture list for these three teams.
Porto could be considered the Primeira Liga betting favorites thanks to their lack of Champions League football in the second half of the season. Sporting and Benfica are both in the round of 16 in the Champions League, where they’ll have their hands full with Manchester City and Ajax, respectively. Porto, meanwhile, will be able to focus on the league and may be able to build a lead in February while the Champions League is in progress.
Sporting and Benfica are also perfectly viable Primeira Liga betting options, as they’re both right there with Porto at the top of the league table heading into 2022. The outcome of this league season will come down to the second half of the year, where all three of the top teams will need to play near-perfect soccer to distance themselves from the others. Sporting and Benfica will have more on their plate than Porto, but all three teams have a perfectly good shot to win the league.
Who is in Danger of Relegation?
The relegation battle in the Portuguese Primeira Liga is set to be a competitive one, as the clubs at the bottom half of the league are all separated by just a few points. The Primeira Liga betting favorites to be relegated would likely be the teams that were just promoted ahead of this season from Liga Portugal 2. Estoril, Vizela, and Arouca would need to get up to speed in the top-flight quickly to avoid being sent right back down.
Outside of those three, there are some underperforming teams that would be expected to factor into the relegation race. Belenenses, Famalicao, and Santa Clara are all in the bottom half of the league through the first half of the season.
If they don’t pick up a few victories early in the second half of the season, they could find themselves in a much tighter fight than they’d anticipated.
Outright Predictions for Primeira Liga 2021/22
It’s difficult to pick between the big three when making Primeira Liga betting picks. With that said, Porto is the best choice when deciding on a team to take down the league in the outright betting markets. Their relatively straightforward schedule the rest of the way will help them avoid some of the hiccups that Sporting and Benfica may run into down the stretch.
If you’re not going to go with Porto, Sporting and Benfica would be the only other two viable options on the board. From a Primeira Liga betting perspective, it’d be foolish to back any other team to win the title, as no team outside of the big three has won the title since the 2000-2001 season. That’s not likely to change this season, which means it’s not worth it to back anyone else.
Players to Keep an Eye on in Primeira Liga this Season
The big three in Portugal all have key players that could make a difference in the Primeira Liga betting markets. Rafa Silva of Benfica is a great example, as he serves as one of the top playmakers in Portuguese football. He’s on pace to lead the league in assists while pacing toward a double-digit scoring season, which could help propel his club to the top of the table.
Darwin Nunez of Benfica is a player who could lead the Primeira Liga in scoring when this season is in the books
He’s benefited greatly from the presence of Rafa Silva in the Benfica attack, as some of Silva’s assists have gone to set up the Uruguayan. If those two can continue to link up for goals, the Benfica front could help them earn the league title back.
Porto has its own players who can help them come out on top in Primeira Liga betting markets. Chief among them is Luis Díaz, who leads the team in scoring this season, and could also end up as the top scorer at the end of the league campaign. Diaz is a player who could put the Primeira Liga trophy on his boot down the stretch, as his output could be the difference between enough points to win the league and falling short.
How do we Provide our Expert Picks for Primeira Liga?
Our Primeira Liga betting picks are the product of meticulous research on every team in the top league in Portuguese soccer. While the bulk of the attention in Portugal is paid to Porto, Benfica, and Sporting, it pays to do deep dives into what makes the other clubs in Portugal tick. Identifying their strengths and weaknesses can reveal value betting opportunities throughout the season, against the big three and the rest of the clubs in the country.
Along with identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each team, our Primeira Liga betting experts also dive into the statistics behind each side to determine how each side does what it does. Stats like expected goals can paint a fuller picture of how a team is performing than simple stats like shots and possession numbers. Our handicappers use all of those numbers and more to figure out where there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to each team’s results.
The Primeira Liga betting picks you see here also take into account the schedule each team has to play. When big three clubs have Champions League or domestic cup matches scheduled around their league games, there’s the potential for squad rotations or a lack of focus to cause them to drop points. Our team looks at the spots where those situations are in play to help you find additional value throughout the Portuguese soccer season.
Best Sportsbooks That Cover Primeira Liga Games
As we mentioned earlier, there are plenty of sportsbooks with which you can do your Primeira Liga betting. Not all of those sportsbooks are created equal, though, as some sites offer a better experience than others. These sportsbooks in particular are worth checking out when betting on the top tier of Portuguese soccer.
Draftkings and Betway may be the books most likely to consistently carry Primeira Liga betting action. They both have ties to soccer as a whole dating back the longest, thanks to their time catering to the European marketplace prior to the legalization of sports betting in the United States. Because of that, you can expect them to treat the Primeira Liga with the level of attention you pay to it as a fan.
Another sportsbook worth checking out for Primeira Liga betting is Fanduel Sportsbook. The site isn’t necessarily the first name in soccer betting, but it does have some features that may become a part of the soccer betting landscape more regularly going forward. They offer live streaming of some soccer leagues already, which could come to the Portuguese league in the future.
Sportsbook Promo Codes and Best Bonuses for Primeira Liga
The best Primeira Liga betting promotion comes from multiple sportsbooks, as BetMGM and FanDuel Sportsbook both offer a risk-free bet worth up to $1,000. At those sites, you can place your first bet on the Portuguese top-flight and keep the profits if that bet is a winner. If that bet loses, however, you can be reimbursed for the amount you wagered, up to that $1,000 mark.
Another top-tier sportsbook promo that can be used for Primeira Liga betting comes from BetRivers. There, you can deposit $250 on your first deposit with the site, and get a dollar-for-dollar match up to that $250. This offer turns your initial deposit into a $500 start, which is a nice way to build up a bankroll without having to place any bets in the early stages.
There are new sports betting promotions introduced on a regular basis at the legal sports betting sites available throughout the United States. You’d be best served to keep your eyes peeled for updates from the sportsbooks available in your state on a regular basis to find the best offers for you.
All You Need To Know About Primeira Liga Betting
Now that you know about the teams involved in the Primeira Liga betting markets, as well as where to bet on this league, it’s time to go over the mechanics of betting on this competition. Here, we’ll go over how the betting odds work in this league and how to take full advantage of them. This section of our guide to Primeira Liga betting will help make you a smarter bettor in this league and in sports betting in general.
Primeira Liga Odds And Betting Lines
The Primeira Liga betting odds you see for each match are what determines how profitable you can be with each bet you place. Betting odds are displayed in the form of a number that is preceded by a plus sign or minus sign for each betting market. Minus signs signify the amount you need to bet to win $100 on that wager, while plus price odds show the amount you’d win if you put $100 on that betting market.
For example, if you see odds of -150 ahead of a match in the Primeira Liga, you’d need to risk $150 to win $100 on it. If there were odds of +150 for an upcoming match, a $100 bet would yield a profit of $150. You’re by no means obligated to bet anywhere near $100 on any bets that you make, as payouts will be adjusted proportionally based on the odds you are betting into.
Compare Odds For Primeira Liga
No matter how much you bet on your Primeira Liga betting picks, one of the smartest things that you can do is compare the odds for your selections across as many sportsbooks as you can. By doing so, you can reduce the amount you have to risk on the bets you want to make, or increase the amount of potential profit on each pick. This can make you a more profitable sports bettor in the long run.
As an example of the importance of comparing betting odds, say that a team is favored in an upcoming Primeira Liga match. At one sportsbook, they’re a -175 favorite, and at another, they’re a -200 favorite. At -175 odds, you’d need to risk $175 to win $100 while backing that team, and you’d need to risk $200 to win $100 to back that team at -200.
In our example, you’d need to risk $25 more to win the same $100 by betting on that team at -200. Instead, it’d be much better for your bankroll to place that bet at -175, saving yourself $25 if that bet were to lose. Those savings could then be used for another wager or saved for a future matchup.
How do we Generate our Primeira Liga Odds?
To get the odds we use for Primeira Liga betting, we look at as many legal sportsbooks as possible. By comparing the odds for these matches across several bookmakers, we’re able to deliver the most profitable picks possible on a regular basis. We’re also able to save you the time of having to look for the best odds for each match yourself, making your bets more profitable and more convenient.
Moneyline Primeira Liga Odds
When you’re doing your Primeira Liga betting, you’ll see the moneyline market more than you’ll see nearly all other betting options.
In the moneyline market, your goal is to predict the outcome of each match, with three options available for each matchup. You can either back one of the two teams to win each match, or for the match to end in a draw.
There were 77 draws in Primeira Liga play during the 2020-2021 season, illustrating what a viable option the draw is when betting on the moneyline. Though betting on a stalemate isn’t the most popular option, as human nature leads most bettors to back one team to win most of the time, the draw is an option that you shouldn’t overlook when making your picks.
Primeira Liga Over/Under Odds
In the over/under betting market, your goal is to predict how much scoring will take place over the course of a single match.
Sportsbooks will post a number of goals for each match, and it’s up to you to decide whether the total score between both teams will go over or under that amount. This market rewards you if you can identify the tactics that teams will use and how they relate to scoring goals.
For example, a team that plays a more conservative style may see lower scoring games than one that goes all-out on the attack on a regular basis. There’s no guarantee a team’s tactics will line up with the amount of scoring in each match. But you can maximize your chances of winning totals wagers if you can find tactical advantages in a league that doesn’t receive the same attention as the more high-profile competitions in Europe.
How does Primeira Liga Work?
The Portuguese Primeira Liga consists of 18 teams each season, with each team playing home and away matches against their 17 opponents during the season. Teams get three points for each match that they win, one point for each match they where they earn a draw, and zero points for each loss they incur. At the end of the season, the team with the highest point total wins the league title.
Teams and Venues
When doing your Primeira Liga betting for this coming season, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the 18 teams participating in this competition. Here’s a look at the 18 teams playing in Portugal’s top club soccer competition, along with the venues that they play their home matches in.
| Team | Home Venue |
|---|---|
| Arouca | Estádio Municipal de Arouca |
| B SAD | Estádio de Honra |
| Benfica | Estádio da Luz |
| Boavista | Estádio do Bessa |
| Braga | Estádio Municipal de Braga |
| Estoril | Estádio António Coimbra da Mota |
| Famalicão | Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho |
| Gil Vicente | Estádio Cidade de Barcelos |
| Marítimo | Estádio do Marítimo |
| Moreirense | Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas |
| Paços de Ferreira | Estádio Capital do Móvel |
| Portimonense | Estádio Municipal de Portimão |
| Porto | Estádio do Dragão |
| Santa Clara | Estádio de São Miguell |
| Sporting CP | Estádio José Alvalade |
| Tondela | Estádio João Cardoso |
| Vitória de Guimarães | Estádio D. Afonso Henriques |
| Vizela | Estádio do Futebol Clube de Vizela |
Primeira Liga Trophy
The Portuguese Primeira Liga trophy is a silver trophy that features a cone-shaped base, leading up to an ovular mid-section and a ball-shaped top. The trophy has angular handles that go up to the top of the trophy, and are adorned with ribbons in the colors of the team that has won the league.
COVID-19 Status
One of the new concerns that has emerged in the world of sports is COVID-19, which has the potential to alter the Primeira Liga and Primeira Liga betting. For now, there are no plans to postpone matches or alter the league schedule in any other way. That can change, though, depending on how case numbers around the world evolve over the next few months.
Interesting Facts About Primeira Liga
- The Primeira Liga was founded in 1934
- Belenenses and Boavista have each won one title, with Sporting, Porto, and Benfica winning all of the other league championships
- The league is now ranked ahead of France’s Ligue 1 in terms of its league coefficient score
The Primeira Liga was founded in 1934, and has been operating for over 80 years in Portugal. The balance of power in this league may be more consolidated than any major soccer league in the world, as all but two of the Primeira Liga titles in league history have gone to the big three clubs. Belenenses and Boavista have each won one title, with Sporting, Porto, and Benfica winning all of the other league championships.
This league is also rising up the ranks in terms of its quality in recent years. It’s now ranked ahead of France’s Ligue 1 in terms of its league coefficient score, as it’s been deemed a higher quality competition than the French top-flight.
Primeira Liga Conclusion
The Portuguese Primeira Liga is a top-heavy league, but there’s a lot of quality from top to bottom. In the country known for stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, there’s no shortage of star power here, making Primeira Liga betting incredibly gratifying in most cases. With our betting tips for this league, there could even be some profit to go along with that gratification.
