The Portuguese tournament kicks off with 15 clubs trying to end the dominance of the 'Big Three': Porto, Benfica, and Sporting. Let's see if that happens this weekend.

The 89th edition of the Primeira Liga is set to begin with a bang on Friday, August 5. It will be a very special but interesting season with a large break due to the FIFA World Cup taking place, but that will not keep fans from showing interest in the performances of their favorite teams.

Porto will enter this season as defending champions. The Dragons ended last season with a six-point advantage over former title holders Sporting, with the added bonus for Sergio Conceicao's team of getting the title by defeating Benfica in O Classico during the next to last matchweek of the 2021-22 campaign.

The blue and white club will have a tough time winning a second title in a row as they have seen some of their most talented footballers leave the club, which could give Benfica and Sporting and edge over the defending champions.

As for Benfica and Sporting, both clubs that complete the "Big Three" will embark on this season with some doubts, as the Eagles parted ways with Darwin Núñez, last season's top scorer, while Sporting failed to make any big signings ahead of their debut.

Let's have a closer look at some of the key aspects of the upcoming Primeira Liga season.

Team changes ahead of the 2022-23 season

The end of last season came with the relegation of three teams: Belenenses, Tondela (who were relegated after finishing in the final two spots of the table), and Moreirense (who lost the relegation playoff against Chaves). 

On the other hand, Chaves, Casa Pia, and Rio Ave claimed a spot in the Primeira Liga after the end of last season. Rio Ave return to the Portuguese top-flight after just one year, but Casa Pía will be making their debut in the top-tier football category in Portugal in this century, as they have not been in the Portuguese top-flight for 83 years.

The other 15 teams in the competition will be: Arouca, Benfica, Boavista, Braga, Estoril, Famalicao, Gil Vicente, Marítimo, Paços de Ferreira, Portimonense, Porto, Santa Clara, Sporting CP, Vitoria de Guimaraes, and Vizela.

Primeira Liga: Top matches to watch in Matchweek 1

Benfica vs Arouca - The first match of the season will be one to keep an eye on, as the Eagles led by new coach Roger Schmidt battle Arouca for their first three points of the tournament. The red and white side will rely on new signings David Neres and Enzo Fernández to fill the void left by Darwin Núñez's departure, while players such as Joao Mario and Roman Yaremchuk provide the much-needed experience for the most-winning club in Primeira Liga history.

As for the visitors, Arouca will try forget about their record against the Eagles, which includes only one win and nine losses in their last ten matches facing Benfica. The Arouquenses enter this edition of the Primeira Liga with some interesting additions, including former Santos striker Bruno Marques and former Fulham center-back Jerome Opoku as their players to keep an eye on.

Porto vs Marítimo - The defending champions start their title defense facing a rival they have beaten in seven of their last ten games across all comps. Sergio Conceicao's men have to be considered favorites to win this clash, especially since they do not have any major injury absences or suspensions for this clash. 

The away side make it to the Do Dragao with their sights set on a shocking win. Their activity during the transfer window has not been impressive, with youngster Pablo Moreno and Venezuelan Jesús Ramírez as their most relevant signings. Marítimo's last win against Porto came in an away match back in 2020. Will they be able to pull off a similar stunt here?

Sporting Braga vs Sporting CP - Perhaps the most appealing game in Matchweek 1, Sporting Braga will welcome the 2020-21 champions with a few signings worthy of attention, including the addition of striker Simon Banza from Lens and the loan deal they struck with Real Betis for Mexican starlet Diego Lainez. Other than those signings, the team now led by Artur Jorge will try to prove their worth against one of the big title contenders of the league.

Speaking of the away side, the Lions will begin the season with names such as Francisco Trincao and Pedro Porro officially in their roster. These players, along with Pedro Gonçalves, are expected to carry the team's weight during the entire season. As for this match, coach Ruben Amorim will try to extend his dominance over Braga, a team he has beaten in five of his six matches as a professional coach.

Primeira Liga - Who's in and who's out of Matchweek 1?

Benfica - Injured: Lucas Veríssimo.

Porto: No injury absences.

Sporting Braga: No injury absences.

Sporting CP: Injured: Antonio Adán, Jeremiah St. Juste, Daniel Bragança.

Primeira Liga: Full Matchweek 1 fixtures, 2022-23 season