Taca de Portugal preview: Sporting, Benfica in action in first two games of round three

October 16, 2019 By Ali M.

Topics: TV Schedules, Porto, Benfica, Sporting CP, Braga, Taca de Portugal

The third round of the Taca de Portugal commences on Thursday and will continue until Sunday. Check out our match preview for more info.

The Taca de Portugal returns to action on Thursday, with round three in this competition kicking off almost immediately after the end of the international break. Everything commences with Sporting CP’s trip to Alverca.

The Lions head into this tie on the back of a two-game winning streak but don’t let this fool you, as Bruno Fernandes and Co. have had their ups and downs recently. Those back-to-back triumphs Aves and LASK are their only victories from their last seven games as they went on a five-game winless streak, losing four and drawing once.

The reigning champions will be without a few players. Fernando, Battaglia, and Cabral are all out. Whether Bruno Fernandes, their top scorer so far this season, will play remains unknown.

The following day is when the champions of Portugal will take to the field. Benfica’s clash will be with Cova Piedade as they aim to end their three-year wait to lift this crown, having last lifted this title in 2017.

The Eagles have won only once in their last three games in all competitions, with a 1-0 victory over Setubal separating their goalless draw with Vitoria and 3-1 defeat to Zenit. They will be without Chiquinho, who remains on the sidelines alongside Conti, Florentino, Almeida, and Silva.

Porto will have to wait until the weekend for their turn. Coimbrões will be the opponent for the Portuguese league’s third-placed side. The Dragons head into this clash on the back of their loss to Feyenoord in the Europa League but they have not lost to a fellow Portuguese side since the opening round. However, it has been eight years since they last won the Taca de Portugal.