The 2010–11 Primeira Liga (also known as Liga ZON Sagres for sponsorship reasons) was the 77th season of the Primeira Liga, the top professional league for Portuguese association football clubs. It began on 15 August 2010 and ended on 14 May 2011. A total of 16 teams contested the league, 14 of which already took part in the previous season and two of which were promoted from the Liga de Honra. Benfica were the defending champions but finished runners-up to Porto, who won their 25th league title in the club's first-ever unbeaten season. Porto's forward Hulk was the top scorer with 23 goals.
Teams
Belenenses and Leixões were relegated at the end of the 2009–10 season after finishing in the bottom two places of the table. Belenenses ended an 11-year spell at the highest level of Portuguese football,[3] while Leixões returned to the Liga de Honra after three years.[4]
The two relegated teams were replaced by Liga de Honra champions Beira-Mar and runners-up Portimonense. Beira-Mar returned to the top-level league after three years of absence,[5] and Portimonense made their first appearance in their league since being relegated at the end of the 1989–90 season.[6]
Source: LPFP(in Portuguese) Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head away goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Matches won; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off. (Note: LPFP decided that only criteria 1, 5, 6 and 7 would be applied to establish the classification during the competition.)[27] (C) Champions; (R) Relegated Notes:
^The 2010–11 Taça de Portugal competition was won by Champions League-qualified side Porto. Since cup runners-up Vitória de Guimarães secured a place in the European competitions via league position, the spot allocation for the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League effectively reverted to league positions.
^ abMarítimo ahead of União de Leiria on head-to-head record; Marítimo–União de Leiria 1–1, União de Leiria–Marítimo 1–3
^ abOlhanense ahead of Vitória de Setúbal on head-to-head record; Olhanense–Vitória de Setúbal 3–1, Vitória de Setúbal–Olhanense 0–0
^"Victor Zvunka despedido". Record (in Portuguese). record.xl.pt. 27 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.