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Liga Sagres set for red-hot start to 2008/09 season

Big three meet each other in first five weekends

The fixture list for the 2008/09 Portuguese Liga season was drawn amid much pomp and circumstance yesterday. New sponsors Sagres could not have hoped for a more exciting start to the championship.

Perennial title challengers FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting will all face each other in the first five weeks of the new season.

On the opening weekend on 24 August Sporting host debutants in the top flight, Trofense, while Benfica travel to another newly promoted team Rio Ave. Champions FC Porto welcome Belenenses to the Estadio do Dragao.

The first “classico” of the season takes place in Round Two, as Benfica play FC Porto at the Estadio da Luz. Portugal’s largest stadium will see another huge match in Round Four as Sporting make the short trip to their city rivals for the Lisbon derby. And one week later the Lions will host FC Porto.

Each of the big three will be keen to ensure they undergo a productive and injury-free pre-season training period so that they are in good shape for the early matches against their title rivals, which traditionally have a big bearing on the eventual championship winners.

Boavista were included in yesterday’s draw although they may be replaced by Pacos de Ferreira should their appeal against relegation as punishment for corruption fall on deaf ears.

Early matches between the Big Three

Week Two - 31 August
Benfica v FC Porto

Week Four, 28 September
Benfica v Sporting

Week Five, 5 October
Sporting v FC Porto

Week One programme (24 August):
Estrela Amadora v Academica
Guimaraes v Setubal
Naval v Maritimo
Leixoes - Nacional
Sporting v Trofense
Boavista* v Braga
FC Porto v Belenenses
Rio Ave v Benfica

* or Pacos de Ferreira