Draw sets Sporting-Benfica derby for late August | OneFootball

Sporting’s under-23 team, led by Leandro Grimi, already knows the schedule for its debut in the Liga Next Gen, the new name of the competition for this age group. The Lions begin their campaign at home against União de Leiria, in a match scheduled for August 11, on the opening round of the competition.

This year’s edition will feature 20 teams, but the first phase will have a different format than usual, as clubs will not face every opponent and there will be no home-and-away matches against all teams. Each participant will play a total of 16 matches, eight at home and eight away.

The draw also determined one of the most anticipated moments of the opening phase: the derby against Benfica. The match between the two rivals is scheduled for the third round, on August 25, with Sporting hosting the Eagles at the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy.

After this first phase, the top eight teams will secure a place in the fight for the national title. Meanwhile, the teams finishing between ninth and 20th place will aim to secure a spot in the Next Gen Cup, a competition scheduled for the start of 2027.

In addition to hosting União de Leiria and the clash with Benfica, Sporting’s schedule includes away trips to Vizela, Estrela da Amadora, Leixões, Estoril, Rio Ave, Farense, Torreense and Felgueiras. The Lions will close the first phase on December 22 against Felgueiras.

Sporting’s schedule in the Liga Next Gen:

Matchday 1 (11/08): Sporting - Leiria

Matchday 2 (18/08): Vizela - Sporting

Matchday 3 (25/08): Sporting - Benfica

Matchday 4 (01/09): Estrela da Amadora - Sporting

Matchday 5 (09/09): Leixões - Sporting

Matchday 6 (15/09): Sporting - Académico de Viseu

Matchday 7 (19/09): Sporting - Penafiel

Matchday 8 (13/10): Estoril Praia - Sporting

Matchday 9 (20/10): Sporting - Gil Vicente

Matchday 10 (27/10): Rio Ave - Sporting

Matchday 11 (03/11): Sporting - Braga

Matchday 12 (24/11): Farense - Sporting

Matchday 13 (01/12): Sporting - Portimonense

Matchday 14 (08/12): Torreense - Sporting

Matchday 15 (15/12): Sporting - Famalicão

Matchday 16 (22/12): Felgueiras - Sporting

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