Storm Charles continued to wreak havoc in Portugal, with the government decreeing all schools and public services be closed this Wednesday 11 November. Many businesses, including the country’s largest supermarket chain Pingo Doce, followed suit and shut their doors for the day.
The inclement weather has naturally impacted outdoor sports events. Portugal’s U17 match against Andorra at Cidade do Futebol on the outskirts of Lisbon, and the U19 encounter between Portugal and Lithuania, to be played in the northern town of Arouca, have both been postponed and rescheduled for tomorrow.
Club football has also been affected, with Benfica v Austria Wien at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon in the UEFA Women’s Champions League also put back 24 hours. Tickets purchased in advance remain valid for the game tomorrow.
In UEFA’s secondary European club competition for women, the Europa Cup, the second leg match between Torreense and Sparta Prague also fell victim to the atmospheric conditions. A new date has not been announced yet. The first leg in the Czech Republic ended in a 2-2 draw.
Portugal remains on red alert, with the government warning expected to remain in place until midnight this Wednesday.
The stormy weather had impacted football earlier. On the weekend the previous thunderstorm, named Storm Bruna, forced Estoril Praia’s match against Marítimo to be cancelled. Madeira has borne the brunt of the series of storms, and all flights have been grounded at its Cristiano Ronaldo airport, meaning Mitchell van der Gaag’s team could not leave the Atlantic Island. The Liga Portugal fixture has been rescheduled for 4 January 2027.
