Great season for Vitória. It was the best league season in the last 9 years, ending in a very respectful 4th place, granting a spot in the Europa League next season and, maybe the most pleasing thing for the fans, won the private race against the arch-rivals Braga, who was one of the most interesting points of the whole season for a while, until Braga lost fuel in the exact moment when Guimarães was collecting victories for fun. A seven matches winning streak – the best sequence of the club in their entire history – between 26th and 32nd round was the highlight of the season.
A solid back-four, a duo of competent goalkeepers (experienced Douglas and promising Miguel Silva), a creative and yet hard-working midfield (even after the departure of João Pedro in January, and the long injury of Rafael Miranda), and especially an attacking line with some hard to stop players was the recipe for this season’s success. Players like Raphinha, Hernâni and Paolo Hurtado were great, talented supporting players for the two most influential players of the season: striker Tiquinho Soares, who left in January to join Porto, but gave Guimarães a very big help until then, not only with goals, but with great tactical and collective work as a “team-wise striker”; and, above all, Moussa Marega. “No Marega, no Party”, was the motto of most of Guimarães season. In January, with Soares departing to Porto and Marega on international duty the entire month, Guimarães had their worst period of the season but, as soon as the Malian rejoined the team, the attacking proficiency came back and, despite the not always consensual style of the attacker, Marega had always a devastating effect in the opponent’s defences.
In addition to a very successful league season, Vitória managed to reach the Taça de Portugal final, which only happened six times in their history. Only one of those 6 finals was actually won, the very last time, already in the current decade. And, even if in the end Vimaranenses didn't manage to overcome Benfica in the final, it was an unforgettable season for the club, anyway.
