Portuguese Primeira Liga To Resume With Matches Played Almost Daily

Leaders Porto will travel to Famalicao as the Portuguese top-flight returns to action on 3 June after more than two months on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Primeira Liga said.

The league announced late Friday the schedule for the remaining nine rounds of the season but not for the final matchday on 21 July.

Porto host seventh-placed Famalicao, who were promoted last term, late on the Wednesday after struggling Portimonense welcome mid-table Gil Vicente earlier in the day.

The Portuguese government said in April the closing 10 rounds of the campaign, which was suspended on 12 March, would have to be played according to strict medical protocols.

Players will have to pass virus tests twice a week and matches will be played “in the fewest number of stadiums possible”.

The venues for the remaining fixtures were not divulged by the league but according to local press reports they will be held in their usual locations.

Elsewhere, champions Benfica, whose midfielder David Tavares had tested positive for the virus, host 14th placed Tondela on 4 June.

After a rest day on June 8, the following round of matches will be spread over five days from 9 June to 13 June.

Subsequent rounds will also be spread over four to six days, with just a single rest day in between each, until 21 July when the penultimate round will be complete.

Most matches will be played at 1900 or 2115 local time, with a few at 1700.

Porto lead the 18-team table with 60 points from 24 matches, one ahead of bitter rivals Benfica, with Braga a further 13 points adrift in third.

No date has been announced for the Portuguese Cup final between Porto and titleholders Benfica.