Benfica home start confirmed amid Liga draw constraints | OneFootball

Benfica will begin the Liga Portugal Betclic 2026/27 at Estádio da Luz, with Sporting away on the opening weekend.

According to Glorioso 1904, the draw takes place at 19:00 on Thursday at the Arena Liga Portugal.

Sporting requested an away start due to works at Estádio José Alvalade. A safety rule stops both Lisbon clubs hosting in the same round, which guarantees Benfica’s home opener.

Because Benfica will enter Europa League qualifying, they cannot face Braga, island sides or any club ranked in the top five by average across the past three seasons during matchdays one to four. Vitória de Guimarães could still feature in that spell.

Further limits apply around European weeks. On matchdays six, nine, 10, 14, 19, 22, 23, 26, 29 and 32, Benfica cannot meet Portuguese Champions League participants, namely Porto and Sporting, as the league seeks a balanced schedule.

The opponent for Benfica’s opener will be set by Thursday’s draw, which will produce a fixture list shaped by domestic and European demands from the outset.

Source: Glorioso 1904