Portugal Primeira Liga Matchday 34 Odds & Picks: Closing Time

• With Porto’s title wrapped up, attention turns to the relegation battle entering the 34th and final matchday of Portugal’s Primeira Liga
• One of Setubal (31 points) or Portimonense (30 points) will join free-falling Aves in the second division next season; Setubal host Belenenses while Portimonense host the aforementioned Aves
• Get all the odds and best bets for Matchday 34 in Portugal below

It’s incredible that in a year which held so much promise, Benfica will play out the string in a Lisbon Derby against Sporting that is virtually meaningless: The Aguias faltered in the second half of the season and are eight points back of Porto on the final weekend.

There’s still plenty of value to be had on the final weekend though and we’re breaking down our top picks from Round 34 here.

Liga NOS Matchday 34 Odds

All odds taken July 23

Pick 1: Benfica vs Sporting Lisbon

It’s hard to believe Benfica (23-5-5) won 16 of their 17 matches in the first half of the season; Bruno Lage’s team had an outright second-half collapse, leading to the manager’s firing and Porto’s waltz to the league title, and now enter the Lisbon Derby with little to play for.

Sporting (18-6-9) have largely been enjoying life under Ruben Amorim since he joined from Braga midseason, and still have something to play for: The Leoes need a single point to secure direct passage to next year’s UEFA Europa League group stage.

30 – FC Porto have now scored 30 goals from set pieces, the most in the Primeira Liga this season – no other team has scored more than 18 in that fashion. Strategy. #LigaNOS #FCPorto pic.twitter.com/tYFDRKaPOz

— OptaJoao (@OptaJoao) July 16, 2020

While Benfica have returned to form with confident wins in their last two outings, ugly home efforts against Santa Clara (3-4) and Tondela (0-0) leave room for doubt.

Pick: Sporting +0.5 (-108)

Pick 2: Vitoria Setubal vs Belenenses

There’s no way around it: Setubal (6-13-14) have been bad down the stretch. So bad, in fact, that their 0-0 draw at Sporting last matchday snapped a six-game losing skid — and the club is in real trouble of getting relegated.

Belenenses (9-8-16) are not world-beaters, but have claimed points in three of their previous five matches — including a credible 1-1 draw at Braga.

Expect a tight affair.

Pick: Under 2.5 (-111)

Pick 3: Portimonense vs Aves

It’s been a rollercoaster of a 2019-20 campaign for Portimonense (6-12-15); horrific at the time of the COVID suspension, electric coming out of the break and stumbling down the stretch.

Standing between them and possible salvation are Aves (5-2-26) and the Setubal-Belenenses result.

Shock 1-nil win over Setubal aside, Aves have been horrific post-COVID en route to a 1-1-6 record and are in disarray off the pitch; as evidenced by their players’ protest against Benfica last week.

Pick: Portimonense -2 (+101)