Lisbon derby set to decide Portuguese Cup
The match will take place this Sunday, May 25, at 17:15 at Jamor’s Estádio Nacional, amid heightened security and historic rivalry between Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.
The 2024 Portuguese football season will come to a dramatic conclusion this Sunday, May 25, as fierce rivals Sporting CP and Benfica face off in the final of the Taça de Portugal at the Estádio Nacional in Jamor.
The highly anticipated clash will be the fourth and final Lisbon derby of the season, following a tightly contested league campaign that saw Sporting emerge as national champions.
Sporting secured their 21st league title last weekend with a 2-0 victory over Vitória de Guimarães.
Goals from Pedro Gonçalves and Viktor Gyökeres sealed the win, capping off a dominant campaign in which the club finished with 82 points, two ahead of second-placed Benfica.
Gyökeres, who scored his 39th league goal of the season in that match, currently leads the European Golden Boot standings, ahead of international stars like Kylian Mbappé and Mohamed Salah.
The league title was decided on the final day, as Benfica were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Braga, failing to capitalize on their slim title hopes.
The result, combined with Sporting’s superior head-to-head record, ensured the trophy returned to Alvalade.
Intense rivalry
Sunday’s final adds another chapter to an already intense rivalry.
Each team has one win over the other this season, with the most recent encounter, a league draw at Estádio da Luz, leaving the derby perfectly balanced ahead of the cup decider.
The only other clash to end in a definitive result was the Taça da Liga final, where Benfica triumphed via penalty shootout in Leiria.
However, the match at Jamor is set against a tense backdrop. It marks the first time the two sides meet in a Taça de Portugal final since 1996, a match tragically remembered for the death of a Sporting fan struck by a flare (known locally as a very light) launched from the Benfica end.
The incident, still etched in the memory of both clubs, has resurfaced in public discussion following recent fan violence.
Tensions have been further inflamed in recent days after a Sporting supporter was left blind in one eye from a rubber bullet fired by police during title celebrations in Lisbon.
In light of these incidents, Portugal’s Public Security Police (PSP) has announced reinforced security measures for Sunday’s final, aiming to ensure safety inside and outside the stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 17:15 local time, with authorities urging fans to arrive early and follow security guidance.