The Taça da Liga in its current form is clearly set up to arrive at the Final Four phase of the competition with Portugal’s four biggest teams playing the semi-finals and final.
The constant changes to the format of the tournament, the initial goal of which was to encourage teams to play their homegrown and/or youth players, reached a ridiculous low this season, whereby the current holders could not even defend the trophy.
Vitória Sport Clube lifted the Taça da Liga in 2025/26 after their brilliant performances to beat Porto in the quarter-finals, Sporting in the semi-finals and Minho rivals Braga in the final, each time coming from behind to win.
However, in its infinite wisdom, the Portuguese Liga decided that only the teams finishing in the top six positions of the Primeira Liga last season, along with the winners and runners-up of the Segunda Liga, would compete in this season’s version. The Guimarães side finished ninth, so were excluded.
The quarter-finals were played this week, comprising a one-off match with no extra time in which – of course – the traditional Big Four of Benfica, Porto, Sporting and Braga would play at home.
Sporting, Porto and Benfica duly saw off their opponents, but the status quo was disrupted by Famalicão, who had the temerity to beat Braga at the Quarry. Young Brazilian goalkeeper Gabriel Cabral was the hero for Fama, saving three penalties in the shootout after the match had ended in a 2-2 draw.
Taça da Liga 2026/27 quarter-final results
Sporting 2-1 Marítimo
Porto 1-0 Académico
Braga 2-2 Famalicão (Famalicão win on penalties)
Benfica 4-1 Gil Vicente
The Final Four phase will be played in Leiria at the start of January.
Taça da Liga 2026/27 semi-final lineup
Porto v Benfica, 05 January 2027
Sporting v Famalicão, 06 January 2027
The final will be played in the same Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa on Saturday 9 January.
