Benfica won the Portuguese football league championship for the first time in 11 years on Sunday after drawing 1-1 at Boavista on the final day of the season.
Striker Simao Sabrosa scored a penalty in the 38th minute but Boavista equalised four minutes later in a result where Benfica ensured a three-point lead over nearest rivals FC Porto.
”This is an unforgettable day. It was a very difficult year but we are a very strong group and we all deserved to win,” said Sabrosa.
Benfica coach Giovanni Trapattoni, who had indicated that he wanted to return to his native Italy at the end of the season, said he was now tempted to stay on with the club for the second year of his contract.
”I am certain that we could go far in the Champions League,” he said.
”It is not Italian football that I miss, I miss my grandchildren, children and wife. I will talk to them and will make my decision next week.”
Trapattoni, who had won eight other club titles before, said he was pleased with Benfica’s victory in this most-closely contested of campaigns in recent years.
”I am very satisfied. When you win year after year as I did with Juventus it is fantastic but this is different,” he said.
Benfica finished the season with 65 points from 34 matches. It was the club’s 31st title.
FC Porto, who claimed the title in seven of the past 10 years, had a chance to win its third straight title but tied 1-1 at home with minnows Academica, prompting coach Jose Couceiro to resign.
Couceiro is the third coach to take the reins at the club since Jose Mourinho left in June 2004 to join Chelsea shortly after he led Porto to the Champion League title.
Sporting Lisbon, which was still reeling from a 1-3 loss at home to CSKA Moscow in Wednesday’s UEFA Cup final, finished in third place after a 4-2 loss to Nacional Madeira.
The third-place finish allows the club to play in the Champions League qualifiers in order to reach the group stage.
Beira-Mar Aveiro, Estoril and Moreirense were relegated to the second division and will be replaced by Estrela da Amadora, Naval and Pacos Ferreira. – Sapa-AFP