The year the leader did not become champion

The Lisbon derby last weekend was decisive, as a Sporting triumph gave the title, as well as a two or more goals of differences offered him to Benfica, but the 1-1 draw at the end of the duel postponed the decision.

The Sportinguista class receives tomorrow, Saturday, Vitória de Guimarães at José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, while the incarnates visit the Sporting de Braga stronghold, in scheduled duels for 6 pm and who will sentence the party of one of the rivals.

The advantage is leonine, due to the victory against Benfica, 1-0, in the first lap of the championship. According to the story, only once the team that was a leader on the last day ended up losing the title. It was Belenenses, at the time 1954/55.

Nine seasons after winning the title of champion, the Restelo Blues were practically with both hands in a second trophy, but would eventually falter in the decisive meeting at a time when the party was already beginning to do.

In a squad where names such as Matateu or Vicente Lucas, Belenenses team, precisely received Sporting, with a point of advantage over Benfica, which, like this time, was limited to awaiting a miracle.

The championship was played with only 14 teams and each victory attributed only two points, unlike the current three, and it was in this scenario that Belenenses and Benfica entered the field on matchday 26, against Sporting and Atletico, respectively.

With the eagles winning for some quiet 3-0, Belenenses knew they had only to beat the green and white class, and it was what was doing 2-1 under a large party in the field of Salésiah. Until, at 86 minutes, Sporting tied the game.

The sportinguist goal, through João Martins, gave the title to rival Benfica, who, despite having completed on time equality with Belenenses (39 points), was crowned champion through direct confrontation, as this Saturday can succeed.

13 decisions

on the last day

Since the championship is played at least for 16 teams (1971/72), the leader has never lost the championship in the last day, and this decision scenario in the closing of the championship has happened on 13 occasions – this year is 14th.

In the 13 times it happened, Sporting and Benfica were in the dispute only three times, in 1973/74, 2006/07 and 2015/16. Interestingly, it was FC Porto to become champion on Monday, in an intense fight to three until the end.

The last time, in 2015/16, is still very present in memory. Jorge Jesus exchanged eagles for lions, in a controversial change that seemed to return Sportinguistas to the titles. However, Benfica, with Rui Vitória, recovered his disadvantage.

Up to seven points behind, Benfica climbed the pitch of Alvalade with just one difference and with the possibility of stealing the isolated lead, which he achieved thanks to a solitary goal of the Greek Mitroglou and a memorable failure of Bryan Ruiz.

This derby, at the 25th round, turned out to be decisive, since, in the nine rounds that were still missing to finish the championship, both Sporting and Benfica only recorded victories, which ensured the three -time eagle championship.

In 1973/74, it was Sporting to arrive at the last round of the lead and won the title, and in 2006/07 the three « Great » won on the last day and FC Porto confirmed the title with 69 points, more than Sporting and two than Benfica.

Last time was in 1978

Regarding the amount of times a championship ended with teams on punctual equality at the top of the classification – something that can happen again this season – it succeeded a total of seven times, the last in the long distant season 1977/78.

It was the only time that, in a championship with at least 16 teams, the champion was decided on punctual equality. FC Porto superior to Benfica, with the 51 points of both in the classification to be more worth the set of José Maria Pedroto.

The first equality in the lead took place at the fourth edition, in 1937/38, with Benfica, this time, getting the best about FC Porto, in a championship of just eight teams and 23 points were enough for a team to be a winner.

In a championship of 14 teams, the lead draws took place five times, four of them during the 1950s. Sporting became champion in 1947/48 and 1957/58, against Benfica and FC Porto, respectively, while the eagles celebrated in that season of 1954/55, equal to Belenenses.

On the other hand, the dragons also celebrated the conquest of the championship with punctual equality with Benfica on two occasions, in 1955/56 and 1958/59.

Also at stake this weekend may be the eighth occasion of equality in the lead at the end of a championship. To do this, just that Sporting and Benfica get the same result, be it a victory, the draw or the defeat.