Sporting seek an end to Porto's primacy

Friday start
The new season kicks off on Friday, with Vitória SC playing Vitória FC. Sporting themselves are in action on Saturday against CD Trofense, and having beaten champions Porto 2-0 in the traditional curtain-raiser last weekend, Paulo Bento's side have reason for optimism. "Sporting are stronger for beating Porto," said 26-year-old forward Hélder Postiga, a summer signing from Porto. "It was an important title, not because we won it against them but because it was my first trophy here. That win gives us confidence for the first Liga match. It gives us the strength to do good things this season, like winning the title."

Hulk signed
Marco Caneira and Fábio Rochemback are also back at the club after spells abroad while João Moutinho and Miguel Veloso have agreed to stay on, leaving the team that finished a distant second to Porto last season looking much stronger. However, while Porto lost José Bosingwa to Chelsea FC and Paulo Assunção to Club Atlético de Madrid in the summer, they have brought in some quality players in the likes of Cristian Săpunaru, Nelson Benítez, Freddy Guarín, Tomás Costa, Christián Rodríguez and the wonderfully named Hulk.

Quaresma mystery
Jesualdo Ferreira's side start their campaign against CF Os Belenenses on Sunday with question marks still hanging over Ricardo Quaresma, who has not been playing for the club – a sign for many that he may be about to join José Mourinho at FC Internazionale Milano. That would represent great news for the Dragons' rivals, with SL Benfica particularly eager to turn over a new leaf and challenge Porto after Quique Sánchez Flores replaced fellow Spaniard José Antonio Camacho as coach over the summer.

Benfica refit
The summer has brought wholesale changes at the Estádio da Luz, with last season's fourth-placed finish considered a major disappointment. The Eagles have signed former Sporting midfielder Carlos Martins from RC Recreativo de Huelva along with Belenenses starlet Rúben Amorim and Boavista FC's Jorge Ribeiro – both of whom were once Benfica trainees. Brazilian central defender Sidnei, French midfielder Hassan Yebda and Real Madrid CF's Javier Balboa are also recent arrivals, with a new striker set to complete their summer spree. "Our performances have been improving," said Sánchez Flores. "We are much better than we were at the start of pre-season as we are a competitive team at the moment. We are now a more aggressive side who can make an impact."