The flight back from the Azores had players and officials relishing the start of next season when they will compete in the Primeira Liga against the likes of Benfica, FC Porto, Sporting and SC Braga.
Coach, Vitor Oliveira, will continue in charge next season and a majority of the players are expected to remain. Final day drama at the bottom of the Primeira Liga means that Arouca are relegated alongside Madeira outfit CD Nacional.
Tondela made a miraculous escape, as they had done on the final day of last season, with a 2-0 victory over SC Braga. Moreirense secured top flight survival with a 3-1 win against FC Porto whilst champions Benfica gave a number of fringe players a run out against Boavista.
The Porto side went two goals up before Benfica’s Kostas Mitroglou took full advantage of Rafa Silva’s through ball to pull a goal back with twenty minutes remaining. Croatian youngster Branimir Kalaica snatched a last minute draw for the Eagles as he converted Andrija Živkovic’s corner.
Dutch international, Bas Dost, bagged his fourth hat-trick of the season in the 4-1 demolition of Chaves and as well as topping the Portugal Golden Shoe Award secured second place in the European Award table. Lionel Messi sealed top spot by scoring twice for Barcelona in their 4-2 win over Eibar.
The Italian Serie A is the only major European league yet to conclude, but top scorer Edin Dzeko needs nine goals to pull level with Messi and six to catch Bas Dost!
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Harry Kane finished their campaigns as top scorers of the German Bundesliga and the English Premier League,
respectively.