This is where it truly starts. One month into the nascent season, only now does it feel like the Portuguese 2016/17 club season begins in earnest.

After the prolonged Euro 2016 victory celebrations, a manic end to the transfer window and then the international break, Portugal’s biggest clubs at last go full throttle in their quest for domestic and international glory, as Benfica, Sporting and FC Porto will all be playing two games a week until October.

Who will be celebrating in May next year? PortuGOAL assesses the squads, strengths and weaknesses and the potential for successful campaigns for all three teams.

After a pretty mild start to proceedings by Portuguese standards, the transfer window hit top gear in its final week within the confines of the Primeira Liga, with an explosion of activity involving Portugal’s top clubs.

No team felt the adrenaline rush that came with incomings and outgoings as hard as Sporting this season, meanwhile their direct rivals, Benfica and FC Porto, weren’t too far behind, as the clock ticked dangerously close to midnight.

Patrick Ribeiro rounds up who's in and who's out at the "Big Three" and Braga in what turned into one of the most frantic ever summer transfer windows in Portugal.

Sporting 2-1 FC Porto

Sporting were the victors in the first clássico of the season after an entertainingly scrappy affair at the Alvalade.

Felipe gave the Dragões the lead but goals from the departing Islam Slimani and then Gelson Martins gave the win to Sporting, who now lead the Primeira Liga.

Roma 0-3 FC Porto (agg. 1-4)

FC Porto booked their place in the group stages of the 2016/17 Champions League after thoroughly outplaying an undisciplined Roma side in the Italian capital last night.

Goals from Felipe, Miguel Layún and Jesús Corona gave Porto a 3-0 victory on the night and 4-1 win on aggregate, as the Dragons join Benfica and Sporting in this year's competition.