In 1933 the club was the most successful in Portugal with the most titles and Cups.<br />The 2005/2006 season saw the football team finishing fourth from bottom, which would mean relegation for the team.<br />However, the team won a subsequent appeal that sent Gil Vicente F.C.<br />down instead.<br />With this reprieve, the team played in the top level of Portuguese football again, for the 69th of 73 seasons - the team with most presences at top level after the Big three.<br />This reprieve allowed them to finish fifth in the league, giving them access to the UEFA Cup.<br />In the Portuguese Cup 2007 fans from Switzerland, Canada, United States, and several Portuguese cities were at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon to see the final against Sporting CP, where they lost 1-0. (*)