You Raise Me Uppp… Oh Man. Why, WHY Did I Just Quote That?

By: Greg | May 1st, 2008

fcv Sorry. I sincerely apologize for the Josh Groban quote in the headline, but it was the first thing that popped into my head when I thought of a title for the blog on what teams are going to be promoted into the First Division. It was kind of like a Ray Stantz thinking of roasting Stay-Puft Marshmallows by the fire at Camp Waconda moment, but instead I got a worse kind of monster: I got a Groban Songasaurus. Again, I offer my sincerest of apologies. Now that you have that awful song stuck in your head which will pop in and out during your commute and your post-lunch elimination, why don’t we take a peek at the top of the Liga Vitals, formerly known as the Liga da Honra, also known as the league right below the top league…

1 - Trofense – 50
2 - Rio Ave – 47
3 - G. Vicente – 46
4 - Olhanense – 44
5 - Vizela – 44

Now, most people tend to think that regardless of who is going to be promoted, they won’t be able to make an immediate impact on the higher prestige division, if they manage to even stay up at all. However, just this past season, Vitoria Guimarães were promoted after finishing second and are now sitting third in the SuperLiga, tied on points with Sporting at 49. Therefore, with this piece of fantastic, irrefutable evidence, I refute any potential assertions that these teams are simply lambs being lead to the slaughter. Let us completely ignore the fact that last season’s first place team from the Liga Vitalis / da Honra, Leixões, is a mere two points away from being relegated as we speak. On a symmetrical note, both newly promoted teams are equidistant, from a place standpoint, from the extremes of the table: Guimarães are two places from the top and Leixões are two from the bottom. I love symmetry.

Since I’ve run out of drivel to drool out of my mouth, how about a quick peek at where each of the five teams looking to play in the elite of Portuguese football next year currently stand…

1st place Trofense - 50 points
Remaining Matches: v. 13th place Gondomar (1st leg W 2-1), @ 12th place Portimonense (1st leg W 1-0)
Holds Tiebreak advantage (head to head record) over: Rio Ave (1-1 aggregate, Away Goal), Gil Vicente (2-1 agg.), and Vizela (2-2 agg., Away Goals)
My prediction of their finish: Promotion: 1st place, 54 points

2nd place Rio Ave - 47 points
Remaining Matches: v. 11th place Sta. Clara (1st leg L 0-1), @ 14th place Feirense (1st leg L 0-1)
Holds Tiebreak advantage (head to head record) over: Gil Vicente (2-1 agg.) and Olhanense (4-1 agg.)
My prediction of their finish: 4th place, 49 points

3rd place Gil Vicente - 46 points
Remaining Matches: @ 4th place Olhanense (1st Leg D 0-0), v. 6th place Beira Mar (1st leg D 0-0)
Holds Tiebreak advantage (head to head record) over: None
My prediction of their finish: 3rd place, 50 points

4th place Olhanense - 44 points
Remaining Matches: v 3rd place Gil Vicente (1st Leg D 0-0), @ 5th place Vizela (1st leg W 1-0)
Holds Tiebreak advantage (head to head record) over: Trofense (3-2 agg.) and Vizela (1-0 agg.)
My prediction of their finish: 5th place, 45 points

5th place Vizela - 44 points
Remaining Matches: @ 15th place Penafiel (1st Leg D 0-0), v. 4th place Olhanense (1st leg L 0-1)
Holds Tiebreak advantage (head to head record) over: Gil Vicente (3-2 agg.) and Rio Ave (2-1 agg.)
My prediction of their finish: Promotion: 2nd place, 50 points

I obviously went with the safest and least likely clubs to be promoted with these predictions, but I can see it happening, so why not be bold and say that Vizela will be partying like it’s 84/85. During that glorious season, their only one spent in Portugal’s top flight, they finished with fifteen points on thirty games. They were then asked not to come back the next year. Annnd they haven’t been back since. So, for the last two weeks, it’s Go Vizela!

If you’re still awake after a quick examination of second league Portuguese Football, remember to come back tomorrow for the always fun and fulfilling Jornada Preview!

PS - We love you, Chelsea!!!!