I agree that Benfica, Porto, and Sporting are all great teams. Braga is very good and Maritimo, Guimaraes, and Nacional are decent, but after that, the clubs in our league are the equivalent of the italian or spanish second division (if even). The French league has PSG, Lyon, Lille, Marseille and the rest of the league is considerably stronger than the minnows in the Portuguese league. I watch the french league from time to time and teams like Sochaux and Lorient are much better than Beira-Mar and Rio Ave.

While I would love to see Benfica, Porto, and Sporting in the champions league, I have a hard time believing that we are better than the French. The Russians arguably also have a better league than us because of their depth. Zenit, CSKA Moscow, Dinamo, Rubin Kazan, and now Anzhi are all very good teams.

Porto needs to get their act together and start winning some CL games so Portugal can can hold on to that 5th place spot.

I think we can get 5th position and maybe even fourth but the problem will be maintaining that position. To do that we need other teams to step up. In recent years Nacional and Maritimo have both failed and the same can be said about Guimaraes although they had bad luck in facing Atletico. We are acheiving our high rankings through the efforts of our top 4 but we need the others to step up. Im not an expert but it would be interesting to see who you guys think can make that step and qualify for the europa league groups stages and possibly advance. Anyone remember years back Boavista in the champions league knocking out Liverpool? we have the ability but we need one of these clubs to step up

hi this is the question that i have for you guys out there , i know portugal has been up to 6th in the uefa rankings before but have they ever been up to 5th ? does anyone know ?

Thanks for bringing this back out.

We took a bit of a hit with Guimaraes and Nacional bowing out. But the good news keeps coming.

I know everyone is looking at France, but Italy is who I think we can catch. Kepp in mind that I also think that France could pass Italy.

Italy:
Napoli: In the Group of Death of teh CL and could finish 4th and out of Europe.

Inter: Should advance. but Sneidjer could also be on his way out. Don't underestimate the loss of Eto'o. They look very ordinary, all of a sudden.

Milan: For me they have the best squad from Serie A that could do damage. But they have Barca in their group so they 2nd seems most likely and that means drawing a bigger team.

Only Lazio and Udi are in Europa and their groups are far from easy. Especially since they usually ignore the Europa League.

France:
Lille, Marseille, and Lyon have a lot to do in order to advance in the CL. Very tough groups for them. They will also have a tough task in Ligue 1
PSG could do well in Europa, but they will be concentrating in winning the league.
Rennes should bow out early in Europa.

Portugal:
I like Benfica's chances of advancing, but I do feel that Porto has a tougher route. That being said, they both should advance in the CL. Although very disapointing, they would most likely qualify for Europa should things fall apart.

Sporting also has a tough group in Europa, but raga could once again make its mark.

It will be very interesting, but please don't discount the Russian and Ukraine clubs that are left. They take both competitions very seriously and won't drop points easily.

PS I can't help it but laugh at Shane's comments from bat in September of '09.

This is good for all Portuguese football we need to maintain 6th spot or better 4 all "Forca Porto"!!!

in Group Stage Champion League + 3 or +4?
Portugal total point in 10/11 = 4x5= 20 points
Braga win Celtic 1 match, Sevilla 2 Match = 1x3 = 3
Porto win 2 = 1x2= 2
Sporting win 3, lose 1= 3x1= 3
Matirimo win 4, lose 2 = 4x1 = 4
total = 3+2+3+4= 12
and 3 points for Braga, 3 points for Benfica in Group Stage Champion League
Total = 12+6= 18
where are 2 points ?
i think awarded for participation in the Champions League are 4 points

i think portugal should be 6 and russia 7 and turkey 8 portuguese clubas has more success than russia and ukraine ........Q7-BJK . )

Please keep updating us on the progress.
It's imperative that Portugal earns that third Champions League spot back. If we don't, the league will soon be know for the "Big Two" instead of "Big Three".

Braga has to somehow get into the Champions League Group Stage, and Benfica advance past it.

Porto, Sporting and Maritimo need to also advance in teh Europa League and one of them has to at least get into the semis.

That would be terrific for the Portuguese League.
I am a huge Benfica fan, but I too root for the Porrtuguese squads in European play. Although it pains me a great deal, I even support Sporting in those events.

I think Portugal league should be at 7th place. Porto has been in the last 16 of champions league the last few yearsep home grown players in the Sagres league, the league would be up there.

It's good to hear Portugal is not 10th anymore and moved to ninth but how is the Romanian league ahead of us? What has the Romanian clubs done to surpass the Portuguese league.

Although I was raised as a Benfia supporter, when asked who my team is in the liga I reply by saying I support all Portuguese teams. I basically comes down to wanting whats best for Portuguese futebol. More wins in Europe= more teams in Europe, which= more money for the teams in portugal, which= more resources for developing young talent. With the ultimate goal being a major international title. Not to mention its very fulfilling watching a team like Sporting dismantel a team from the "great " EPL.

Portugal should be 2nd of the ladder Italy should be at top
and Spain sucks