Manchester United targets makes 2018/19 Liga NOS Team of the Season
Here we run through the best WhoScored rated XI following the conclusion of the 2018/19 Liga NOS campaign, in which Benfica secured their fifth league title in six years on Saturday.
Goalkeeper: Charles (Maritimo) – 6.99 rating
Maritimo finished the season seven points clear of the bottom three and can thank Charles for his displays in goal as a reason why they weren’t at greater threat of relegation. Only one goalkeeper won the WhoScored Man of the Match award more times than Charles (three) in the division this season, while no goalkeeper made more saves per Liga NOS game (15+ appearances) than the Brazilian (3.5).
Left-back: Alex Telles (FC Porto) – 7.51 rating
Last season’s WhoScored Player of the Season in Liga NOS, Alex Telles enjoyed another standout campaign for FC Porto, though couldn’t help his side defeat Benfica in the title race. The 26-year-old impressively played a direct hand in 12 league goals from left-back this season (four goals, eight assists). Furthermore, only Rodrigo Soares (118) registered more key passes than Telles (86) of all defenders in the division.
Centre-back: Felipe (FC Porto) – 7.26 rating
Felipe is the second of three Porto defenders in the back four of the WhoScored best rated XI, which is unsurprisingly given the Dragoes finished the campaign with the best defensive record in the league (20 goals conceded). The 30-year-old played a direct hand in three goals from centre-back, won the WhoScored Man of the Match award three times and impressively won 73.9% of the aerial duels he contested – one of the best returns in the division.
Centre-back: Eder Militao (FC Porto) – 7.63 rating
Eder Militao finished his final season at Porto in the WhoScored Team of the Season and beat Benfica wonderkid Joao Felix to the honour of the best WhoScored rated player aged 21 and under. Militao, who will now join Real Madrid, astonishingly returned seven WhoScored Man of the Match awards in 29 league games this season – more than any other defender in the league. He was often required at right-back but the 21-year-old flourished in both positions.
Right-back: Andre Almeida (Benfica) – 7.37 rating
Andre Almeida hasn't always been a first-team regular for Benfica but enjoyed his best ever campaign for the club this season. The 28-year-old started 33 league games at right-back for the Liga NOS champions and returned two goals and 11 assists.
Left wing: Marcos Acuna (Sporting) – 7.32 rating
Marcos Acuna spent most of the season filtering between left-back and left midfield, both with great deals of success. The 27-year-old played a direct hand in 10 league goals for the Portuguese giants (one goal, nine assists), while only two players won possession in the defensive third more times than Acuna (119).
Central midfield: Pizzi (Benfica) – 7.66 rating
Pizzi played an instrumental role in Benfica’s title success, managing to score or assist 31 goals in 34 games from midfield (13 goals, 18 assists). The 29-year-old provided at least five more assists than any other player in the division and won the WhoScored Man of the Match award on five occasions. Not only that, but the Benfica ace created 26 clear-cut goalscoring chances, more than double anyone else in the division. Pizzi also won possession the attacking third at least 13 more times than any other player (41).
Central midfield: Bruno Fernandes (Sporting) – 7.83 rating
Bruno Fernandes finished the 2018/19 Liga NOS campaign as the best WhoScored rated player and is now expected to earn a high profile move to either Manchester City or Manchester United. Despite operating from central midfield, Fernandes was remarkably one of only two players to reach 20 goals for the season. He played a direct hand in more goals than any other player in the division (33) and won the WhoScored Man of the Match the most times (nine).
Right wing: Rafa (Benfica) – 7.73 rating
Rafa’s performances for Benfica largely went under the radar this season as most of the attention was understandably given the teenage sensation Joao Felix. Nevertheless, Rafa finished the campaign with 17 goals to his name and eight WhoScored Man of the Match awards, 14 and seven more than last term, respectively. Only Yacine Brahimi (2.6) averaged more dribbles per game than Rafa (2.4) in Liga NOS this term.
Striker: Joao Felix (Benfica) – 7.52 rating
Despite only becoming a first-team regular for Benfica at the start of the year, only three players scored more league goals than Joao Felix (15) in Liga NOS this season. The 19-year-old is now valued at £150m with both Manchester United and Manchester City chasing the teenage wonderkid. Felix also supplied seven assists, meaning he played a direct hand in 22 goals in 26 league games in his breakout campaign.
Striker: Haris Seferovic (Benfica) – 7.47 rating
Haris Seferovic rounds off the best rated XI for the season and completes a Benfica-dominant team. The 27-year-old, alongside Joao Felix, kept iconic striker Jonas out of the team and finished the campaign as the top scorer in the division (23). Along with five assists, Seferovic played a direct hand in 22 more league goals than he did in his first campaign for the club.
