• Benfica
• Champions League
• Europa League
• Santa Clara
• Braga
• Conference League

The draw took place today for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League competitions.

To make it through to the league phase of their respective competition, Benfica, Braga and Santa Clara must win their third-round qualifying tie and the subsequent playoff. Braga and Santa Clara also have to negotiate the second qualifying round of the preliminary phase, which begins this week. 

Benfica land Nice

Benfica have been drawn against Ligue 1 team Nice. It will be the first time the two clubs have met.

The first leg will take place on the 5th or 6th August (less than a week after the Super Cup curtain raiser to the Portuguese season in the Algarve against Sporting). The decisive match is scheduled for 12 August.

Should Benfica overcome Nice, they will play one of the following opponents in the playoff to reach the lucrative league phase of the Champions League: Rangers, Panathinaikos, Viktoria Plzen, Servette, Feyenoord or Fenerbahce.

Braga’s Europa League path

Braga play their first competitive match of the 2025/26 season on Thursday as they travel to Bulgaria to lock horns with Levski Sofia in the second qualifying round of the Europa League. The second leg is at the Quarry on 31 July.

If Braga get past the Bulgarians, they will face the winner of the tie between FC Lugano (Switzerland) and CFR Cluj (Romania) for a place in the playoffs.

Santa Clara back in Europe

European football is back for Azorean outfit Santa Clara following their sensational 5th-place finish last season in the Liga Portugal, in their first year back after promotion from Liga II.

Like Braga, the season officially starts on Thursday for Santa Clara as Vasco Matos takes his team to Croatia to play NK Varaždin in the first leg of their second-round qualifying tie in the UEFA Conference League.

Should the islanders make it through to the next round, they will take on the winner of the tie between Larne FC (Northern Ireland) and Prishtina (Kosovo) for a place in the playoffs and a chance to enter the competition proper.

Related: Ten facts about Santa Clara’s latest incursion into UEFA competition football

• Porto
• Francesco Farioli

When André Villas-Boas was voted new Porto president in April 2024, it signified a new era for the club after Pinto da Costa’s historical 42-year reign. His first year, as admitted by AVB himself, was a disaster from the sporting point of view, with the first two coaches appointed by the new president, Vítor Bruno and Martín Anselmi overseeing a forgettable campaign.

No-one can accuse Villas-Boas of not being decisive, the president sacking both managers when results went south. Italian coach Francesco Farioli is the new man in the dugout at the Estádio do Dragão. Will it be third time lucky? 

PortuGOAL’s Porto correspondent José Ricardo Leite gives his opinion.

Farioli’s background

After the poor performances of the Dragões in the FIFA Club World Cup, it was obvious that Martín Anselmi, even without a market, was not a good fit.

Even though I liked his ideas, a bold up-and-coming manager might not have been the best solution for an FC Porto in full rebuild mode.

The answer is the Italian Francesco Farioli, former manager of Ajax.

He graduated in Philosophy, but it was inside football that he started to question everything. He started his managerial career in Turkish football and then moved on to Nice, in France.

I am confident that everyone remembers the “Farioli-ball” played in France, with a team that promised nothing and delivered everything with a strong 4-3-3 formation.

He then moved to Amsterdam, where Ajax were struggling. Bringing the same philosophy (no pun intended) that he used at Nice and Turkey, Farioli was meant to be the savior of the Dutch team.

In 2023/24, Ajax had finished 5th in the League and the European campaign was horrendous: they fell in the round of 16 of the Conference League. In that season, they were even fighting to steer clear of the relegation group at one point.

The 2024/25 season was whole lot different thanks to Farioli. Ajax fought eye to eye with a squad that would embarrass Cruyff against the top teams in the Netherlands: PSV and Feyenoord.

However, with this Porto team, it will not be the same. Sure, it is still a new team with an awful previous season. Nevertheless, Porto fans are not settling for less than perfection.

Porto have to be champions this year. Porto need to get back to the Champions League and they have to resuscitate the Dragon in themselves. Farioli is the man to do it, but he has to take into account a huge amount of pressure.

The tactics

As mentioned above, Francesco uses a 4-3-3 formation that offensively can become a 4-2-4 with a false 9/number 10.

With the names that he has currently (as of 21st July), I can assure you that this is the starting 11 for most of the games:

Diogo Costa

Martim Fernandes; Nehuén Pérez; Prpic; Francisco Moura

Alan Varela; Gabri Veiga; Rodrigo Mora

Borja Sainz; Samu; someone, please

Even though it seems like a super offensive team, Farioli places a lot of emphasis on a strong defence: it is the pillar of his philosophy (pun intended). He prioritises objectiveness and controlling the game in midfield, which is why he plays with three of them. However, central variations are in place, especially on the counter attack.

I have no doubt about one thing. Samu is going to score many goals because he will be focused on that (with Anselmi he was mostly a “helper”). And Alan Varela can finally play his best football, focusing on controlling the midfield and no longer having too many creative functions.

Porto president André Villas-Boas promised both the manager and the fans the “best market ever” in terms of investment. Gabri Veiga, Borja Sainz and Prpic were the names announced and Francisco Conceição, Gonçalo Borges and Otávio have already left the club.

The lack of a right-winger is something to be worried about, but the fact that Mora and Veiga step the same space on the pitch is also worrying. One of them needs to be forced back to a central midfield position, which is not ideal for both of them. There is always the option of playing with Vasco Sousa in the centre of midfield, Gabri Veiga as a number 10 and put Borja and Mora on the wings, but that will harm the capacity of one of them to do damage to the opposition.

The first test of the new FC Porto will be against Twente (ironically a Dutch side) just 12 days short of their debut in the new season against Vitória SC.

As for predictions, “I only know that I know nothing”.

by José Ricardo Leite

• Alverca
• Vinícius Junior

The summer transfer season often involves moves that take football fans by surprise. But a candidate for the most bizarre picture of footballers wearing a new club shirt emerged this weekend as the kit of recently promoted Portuguese top-flight club Alverca was proudly displayed by none other than Balon d’Or candidate and Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Junior!

The head-scratcher did not end there, with the Brazilian’s club teammate Eduardo Camavinga also in the photograph, alongside American rapper Travis Scott and his record producer Chase B. All proudly displaying the colours of the modest Ribatejano club. 

Unfortunately, Alverca fans will not be treated to the sight of two of the world’s top footballers giving their all for the team in Liga Portugal.

Vinícius is an investor and co-proprietor in the club and has used his fame to give Alverca a significant publicity boost ahead of 2025/26 by posting the image on his social networks.

Alverca were promoted back into Portugal’s top division after a 21-year hiatus after finishing second in Liga II last season.

• Benfica
• Sporting CP
• Porto
• Braga

Portuguese football has seen a flurry of transfer activity ahead of the new Primeira Liga season. The country’s biggest four clubs are making significant transfers to rework their squads.

For fans tracking team changes and early form, this is the perfect time to explore the best soccer betting sites. Updated odds, market shifts, and expert previews now reflect the latest signings and departures across the league. With players arriving from Spain, England, and beyond, expectations are shifting fast. 

AVB promises big Porto rebuild

Porto appear determined to return to winning ways after last season’s struggles. President André Villas-Boas has claimed this summer will be a record transfer window for the northern club. So far the Dragons have paid around €15 million plus add-ons for Gabri Veiga from Al-Ahli. The Spanish midfielder agreed to a massive pay cut, forgoing over 90% of his Saudi salary to get back to European football.

Porto have also splashed out €16.5 million on Norwich City winger Borja Sainz, who netted 19 goals and delivered four assists in 43 Championship appearances last season. Norwich negotiated a 20% sell-on clause as part of the deal. Sainz spent two full seasons with the Canaries before making the jump to Portugal. If it seems a large fee for a player who has not played in the top flight of a major league, one need only remember that was the case for Darwin Nuñéz and Victor Gyökeres, who came from the second division in Spain and England respectively, only to tear it up in the Liga Portugal.

Porto have also picked up young Croatian centre-back Dominik Prpic from Hajkuk Split for €4.5 million and brought back goalkeeper João Costa, who came through the Porto academy but spent most of his career in Spain before returning to Portugal and playing for Feirense and Estrela da Amadora in the last couple of seasons.

Meanwhile the loan spells of Tiado Djaló and Fábio Vieira have not been extended, and veteran centre-back Marcano has retired. 

Benfica wave goodbye to star names; Félix to return?

Benfica have chosen to completely remodel their attack. The Lisbon giants have lost star man Ángel Di María, who returned to his boyhood club Rosario Central after his contract expired. The Argentine legend scored 36 goals and provided 22 assists in his two seasons back at Benfica for a second spell.

With midfielder Orkun Kökçü offloaded to Besiktas in the wake of his disciplinary problems with coach Bruno Lage, and Álvaro Carreras sold to Real Madrid for a whopping €50 million fee, Benfica have lost arguably their three best performers of last season, certainly in terms of their attacking game. Renato Sanches, Zeki Amdouni and Andrea Belotti have had their loans terminated and Arthur Cabral has been sold to Botafogo. In defence, backup goalkeeper André Gomes and defender Adrian Bajrami have been loaned out to Alverca and Luzern in Switzerland respectively

The Eagles have so far added rookie Spanish left-back Rafael Obrador and highly rated Argentine midfielder Enzo Barrenechea, snapped up from Aston Villa for a fee of €15 million. But the possible signing that is really exciting Benfica fans is the potential return of João Félix. The Portugal international is keen to return to the club where he first shot to fame under the tutelage of current Benfica coach Bruno Lage. 

Champions Sporting to be dismembered?

Sporting have not yet made any major moves but are bracing themselves for the impending departure of at least one of their biggest stars. Viktor Gyökeres, undoubtedly the best player in Portugal in the last two seasons, is on the cusp of a move to Arsenal. 97 goals and 27 assists in 102 matches makes the Swede a Bonafide Sporting legend despite spending only two years at Alvalade, and it is a shame his time in Lisbon has come to a messy end with Sporting, Arsenal, Gyökeres’ agent and the player himself thrashing out an acrimonious negotiation process. Nobody believes the transfer will not eventually be completed though.

While Sporting fans were fully expecting Gyökeres to move on, the news that Morten Hjulmand and Ousmane Diomande are also being targeted by Juventus and Crystal Palace respectively is cause for concern. Losing their best player would be a blow but largely expected and a loss that can be compensated for by strengthening the squad elsewhere, but should the Portuguese champions lose their three best players they will face a huge test to continue their recent success.

Sporting have brought in Georgian midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili from Levante for €5.5 million, who made an impressive debut off the bench in the preseason friendly against Celtic, and winger Alisson Santos who was purchased from União de Leiria. 

Braga show ambition

Portugal’s “fourth grande” Sporting Braga are quietly going about their business under new Spanish coach Carlos Vicens, who is taking on his first job as head coach at a top-level club after working for several years as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.

Highly rated Ivory Coast midfielder Mario Dorgeles is an €11 million capture from Nordsjælland, while goalkeeper Alaa Bellaarouch (ex-Strasbourg), defenders Gustaf Lagerbielke (ex-Celtic) and Leonardo Lelo (ex-Casa Pia) have also been brought in, with Joe Mendes, Andrán Marín and Uros Racic departing. 

Revolving door policy

The financial disparity between the Primeira Liga and Europe’s wealthiest leagues means Portuguese clubs are forced to generate a substantial revenue stream by selling players to foreign leagues. These transfer fees give them new funds to buy fresh talent and invest in their youth academies, which keeps the entire league competitive. The cycle works well: clubs develop promising players, sell them for decent money, then reinvest those profits into new signings and squad improvements.

The transfer window is far from finished and we can expect a lot more incoming and outgoing movement over the coming weeks. With all this activity and given the need for new players to settle down, it will likely be only in deep into September when we can truly evaluate who has “won” the 2025 summer transfer window in Portugal.