Portuguese Primeira Liga Betting Guide

Find the Best Primeira Liga Betting Odds

Naturally, your first step is to join a site with excellent Primeira Liga betting odds. If that sounds easier said than done, don’t worry – all the sites on this page offer competitive odds on the Portuguese league. All these sites have already been vetted by our experts, so sign up to any of them for access to great odds on the Primeira Liga.

These sites also offer comeptitive odds on virtually every sport you can think of, making them the perfect solution if you enjoy betting online in Portugal.

Take Advantage of Rivalries

It’s common in all football leagues for certain teams to share a strong rivalry, especially if they’re located near one another. For example, Sporting CP and Benfica’s stadiums are only three kilometres apart, and the two teams share a fierce rivalry.

FC Porto also have big rivalries with Benfica (O Clássico), CP Sporting, and Boavista FC – the latter being known as “Derby da Invicta”, or “Derby of Porto”.

When you spot an intense rivalry in the schedule, you may want to consider betting on markets such as the number of cards and corners. These affairs are often low scoring as well because both teams are extra cautious about losing and letting their fans down.

Wait for the Starting XI

Whether you’re waiting on team news or comparing odds at Primeira Liga betting sites, patience is key. Finding the right moment to place your bet is critical not only in terms of finding the best odds, but also in making sure you have access to as much information as possible to make an informed decision.

One common example is to place bets on teams before knowing the starting XI for the match. In some cases, it won’t matter. But sometimes there will be an unexpected injury to a key player, or a particularly questionable line-up. Where possible, wait until this news is announced before betting.

Study the Schedule

In addition to looking for team news and injuries, you should also look at each team’s fixture list. This will help you assess how likely they are to win, based on factors like fatigue and incentive.

For example, if FC Porto are involved in the Champions League and have a huge match coming up against a major European team in the English Premier League or Bundesliga, they may rest key players.

Or, if a team like Benfica is guaranteed a European slot in the table, yet mathematically can’t win the league anymore, they may put in less effort to win. Considering factors like these will help you make smart bets.

Liga Portugal 2

Liga Portugal 2, often referred to as the Segunda Liga, is the league directly below the Primeira Liga. At the end of each season, the two lowest-ranked teams from the Primeira Liga are relegated to Liga Portugal 2, while the top two teams in Liga Portugal 2 are promoted. This league is much newer than the top tier, having only been around since 1990.

Liga 3

Teams that can’t quite cut it in Liga Portugal 2 will drop down to the next Portuguese football league, Liga 3. This is a relatively new concept, which replaced the Campeonato de Portugal for the 2020/21 season. Newer leagues always present excellent betting opportunities, as betting sites are still getting familiar with the new teams and players.

Taça da Liga

Also known as the Portuguese League Cup, the Taça da Liga is a popular knockout competition in Portugal. Teams from both the Primeira Liga and the second tier are eligible, and fixtures are arranged based on rankings in previous seasons. The winner is the last team remaining in the competition after three rounds, a semi-final and a final.

Taça de Portugal

In addition to the Taça de Liga, there is also a knockout cup called the Taça de Portugal. It was first established in 1938. The current format welcomes teams from weaker leagues in addition to the top tiers, which introduces the chance of major upsets. There are 154 participants, with Benfica’s haul of 26 cups making them the most successful team in the history of the competition.