FC Porto were duly crowned champions but lost 2-1 at SC Braga whilst Benfica’s new boss Jorge Jesus saw his side score a late winner against Sporting.

Rio Ave grabbed the last remaining Europa League qualification place courtesy of the latest of equalisers by Marítimo against Famalicão.

Portimonense went into the last game of the season knowing they had to win and hope that other results went their way. Three defeats in the four previous games had all but sealed their fate. Goals by Willyan (62’) and Dener (89’) gave them the requisite victory at home to bottom club CD Aves but fellow relegation candidates Tondela and V.Setúbal were full of fight.

Tondela only needed a point but bagged all three as they slotted home two penalties – João Pedro (45’) and Pepelu (90’) – in the 2-1 victory at Moreirense.

V.Setúbal took the lead against Belenenses through Jubal on the half-hour mark and had to wait nervously until the final minute of stoppage time before they could breathe a sigh of relief when Pirri made it 2-0.

Sporting travelled across town for the last Clássico of season against Benfica knowing that to guarantee a ‘top three’ finish they would need to win. The Lions started positively but it was the Eagles who drew first blood in the twenty-eighth minute when Haris Seferovic nodded home a Rubén Dias’ knock-down. Midway through the second-half Sporting drew level when Andraž Sporar’s powerful shot went through keeper Odisseas Vlachodimos’ legs and into the back of the net. Benfica then grabbed a late winner two minutes from time.

Vinícius’s goal was upheld after being checked by VAR.

With Braga beating Porto, the loss means Sporting will now have to enter the Europa League via the qualifiers. Braga had started the final day three points behind Sporting and the outlook seemed bleak when Porto took an early lead through Matheus Uribe. Os Arsenalistas looked a different team after the break and drew level nine minutes after the restart via Ricardo Horta’s edge-of-the-area strike. Diogo Costa’s anticipation was key in denying Fransérgio a route to Braga’s second, with the post denying the Brazilian just five minutes later, but it would be third-time-lucky for the midfielder several metres closer to the goal, drilling low to place the hosts 2-1 up. News of Vinícius’ late goal for Benfica energised Braga for the remaining few minutes as they held onto a 2-1 victory and secured third place in the Primeira Liga.

Elsewhere, Rio Ave completed the Primeira Liga’s top five in the ever-evolving tussle for the final qualifying spot for Europa League football, taking advantage of FC Famalicão’s 3-3 draw with Marítimo to leapfrog the former with a 2-0 win against Boavista.

On Saturday (1 August) champions Porto will meet Benfica in the final of the Taça de Portugal (Portugal Cup) at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, the first time the final has not been played at the Estádio Nacional for 42 years. Porto last won the trophy nine years ago whilst Benfica were victorious three years ago.