Benfica v FC Porto: preview, likely XIs and Super Cup absentees | OneFootball

Benfica and FC Porto face each other again this Sunday, this time with the Super Cup at stake. Around three and a half months after the Portuguese Cup final, the Eagles and the Dragons meet again at the Estádio Municipal do Fontelo, in Viseu, in a match scheduled to kick off at 5:15 pm.

It will be a repeat of the first Clássico in the history of women’s football, played in May at Jamor. Benfica came out on top with a 2-0 win, with Caroline Moller scoring both goals, and added the Portuguese Cup to a sixth consecutive league title. Despite the defeat, reaching the final secured FC Porto a place in this Super Cup. Since then, both squads have undergone significant changes. Ivan Baptista has brought in several reinforcements for the new season, aiming to maintain Benfica’s domestic dominance, while Daniel Chaves has seen the Porto squad thoroughly reshaped ahead of its Liga BPI debut.

Benfica arrive in Viseu with more experience in this type of match, although they face some limitations. Diana Silva is unavailable due to pregnancy. Ana Borges, who has recovered from a serious injury, has only just returned to training with the group and did not take part in the preparations, a situation similar to Lara Martins’. Andreia Norton is further along in her recovery process: the Portugal international has already returned to training and got some minutes in pre-season matches after a long layoff. Even so, using her in an official match as demanding as a Super Cup may call for caution, although she is included in the squad. Carolina Tristão and Inês Meninas were called up by Portugal for the Under-20 World Cup, but everything suggests they will only travel to Poland after the Clássico. However, only Carolina Tristão is available to Ivan Baptista for this match, since the centre-back was left out of the list. Tinkara Testen is expected to take her place in central defence. The Eagles will contest the seventh Super Cup in their history and are chasing a fourth trophy, a result that would allow them to move clear at the top of the competition’s honours list. Benfica also want to win the competition again after losing the last two editions to Sporting and Torreense.

On the other side will be an FC Porto side about to make its debut in the top tier of Portuguese women’s football. After climbing two divisions in two seasons and reaching Jamor while still competing in the second division, the Porto team begin 2026/27 with a strengthened squad and the intention of closing the gap to the main contenders for titles and European spots. Daniel Chaves also has decisions to make. Daniela Areia Santos and Vânia Duarte are doubts, while Ema Gonçalves and Lily Bryant will be unavailable through injury. The absence of the American forward is expected to open the door for Alex Kerr, one of the new additions to Porto’s attack for the new season.

The Canadian made her debut in front of the fans in the 2-1 win over Celta de Vigo at the Estádio do Dragão and is shaping up as one of the main options to lead the line at Fontelo. The unveiling match, played in front of more than ten thousand spectators, offered encouraging signs, but the Super Cup will be the first major test for FC Porto’s revamped side. The clash will also be marked by several reunions. Some players who swapped Benfica for FC Porto during the summer could face their former club, adding extra interest to a clássico that is beginning to establish itself on the national calendar. Daniela Santos remains a doubt, while Letícia Almeida could be an option. Beatriz Carvalho, meanwhile, is in Poland on duty with Portugal’s Under-20 national team.

Between a Benfica side used to fighting for every trophy and an FC Porto team determined to accelerate its growth, Fontelo will host a match in which far more than just a cup will be at stake. The Eagles are looking to confirm their dominance in national football; the Porto players are trying to win the first major title in the still short history of the women’s team.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.