European football trophies are highly sought after, with European clubs aiming to win the Champions League, Europa League, or the European Conference League. This season, four Portuguese league teams remain in the hunt, too. If you enjoy visiting sport betting sites, keep an eye on them. FC Porto is the only Portuguese club from the Portugal group table left in the UEFA Champions League, while Benfica and Braga moved to the Europa League after finishing third in their UCL groups. They have joined Sporting CP, their Portuguese Championship rival that also progressed to the competition’s knockout stage. Regardless, what are the chances of these four Portuguese clubs in their respective European competitions? This article gives a detailed overview of what to expect from them.
FC Porto
Futebol Clube do Porto, a beacon among football clubs in Portugal, has won 84 major trophies and is second only to Benfica (86). Recent Financial Fair Play challenges have tested them, yet their European legacy with seven trophies, including two UCL titles, remains undimmed. Facing a formidable Arsenal in the Champions League’s round of 16, the Portuguese champions will have to demonstrate resilience and ambition.
In the upcoming match, standout players Bukayo Saka of Arsenal and Wenderson Galeno of Porto, who are among the top assist providers in the UEFA Champions League, will be in the spotlight. Their contributions are vital, with Galeno netting four goals and Saka adding three. For individuals looking into betting on this game, KasinoCeske provides valuable advice on selecting the right betting site. Their experts deliver in-depth reviews, betting strategies, and insights, helping bettors make well-informed choices. Whether it’s forecasting who will score the next goal or predicting the game’s outcome, they equip bettors with all the necessary information to confidently place their bets on their favoured teams or players.
Most bookmakers lean towards Arsenal advancing to the quarter-finals, but Porto’s strong European record can’t be overlooked. Even so, with big names like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid in the tournament, Porto winning the UCL title would be a huge surprise.
SL Benfica
Benfica, known as Sport Lisboa e Benfica, tops the charts in the Portuguese Championship, winning the league title 38 times since 1934. Globally, their fan base is over 14 million, the highest for any Portuguese football team.
Last year, they clinched the Primeira Liga and in the Champions League they reached the quarter-finals. This season, their Champions League performance wasn’t the best. They won once in six matches, leading to a third-place finish and a shift to the Europa League.
Now, Benfica aims to revive their European journey against Toulouse in the round of 32. Toulouse finished behind Liverpool in Group E and had a memorable 3-2 victory over the latter in France. While Toulouse seems in good shape, Benfica, having lost two of their last three European home matches, will seek to redeem themselves with victories home and away. The best sport betting sites favour Benfica to advance, and there’s optimism that they have the potential to go far in the competition, maybe even to the finals. We can only keep our fingers crossed for Benfica.
Sporting CP
Sporting Clube de Portugal, known as the Lions, has scored big with 54 major trophies and has made more appearances in UEFA’s second most important competition than any other team, playing over 300 matches. Last season, they slid from the Champions League to the Europa League after a rollercoaster run in the group stages. They managed to kick out Arsenal but bowed out narrowly in the quarter-finals against a lucky Juventus.
Securing the second spot in Group D with 11 points in this year’s Europa League, the Lions are gearing up to face Young Boys. Despite Young Boys exiting the Champions League, Sporting CP are in better shape, losing only one of their six Europa League games compared to Young Boys’ four losses in the UCL group stage.
Even though the UEFA Champions League is a tougher nut to crack, Sporting has a chance at holding Young Boys to a draw in the first leg and sealing the deal back home in Portugal. They have a fantastic team led by a young manager, Rúben Amorim, making waves across the continent.
Bookmakers put their money on Sporting to go all the way. Nonetheless, sport betting Czech enthusiasts should be cautious in the away leg as Young Boys will be hungry to impress their fans. But, all things being equal, Sporting CP is one of the Portuguese football teams everyone watches in this competition’s grand stage.
SC Braga
Over the last twenty years, Sporting Clube de Braga has been steadily growing under their president, António Salvador. Now, they’re diving into the Europa League after landing third in a tough Champions League group with Real Madrid and Napoli.
Braga will face Qarabag in the Europa League knockout stage. They’re prepared for a memorable run in this competition, especially with the first match against Qarabag in their home stadium.
To keep Braga’s European dreams alive, they must defeat a motivated Qarabag. Qarabag has a fair bit of European experience, having played more UEFA matches than any other Azerbaijani team. They earned 10 points in H, progressing to the Europa League knockout stage for the first time. However, facing Braga won’t be easy. Odds listed by best sport betting sites tip Sporting Braga to qualify for the next round. And for Czechs well-versed with the country’s gambling laws, that could be their cue to place wagers. Let’s see if the Portuguese league team can live up to the expectations at the European stage.
FAQ
Which Portuguese football team is left in the UEFA Champions League?
FC Porto is the only Portuguese league club remaining in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Which football club is the most successful in Portugal?
Benfica, with 86 major titles, is the most decorated Portuguese football club.
Can a club from the Portuguese Championship win the Europa League?
While it’s almost impossible for Porto to win the UCL, Benfica, Sporting, or Braga are contenders for the Europa League.
