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Benfica, led by José Mourinho, are far from the Primeira Liga title race and urgently need a statement win against Porto.
The Taça de Portugal delivers a clash that is sure to ignite passions: Porto, unbeaten and runaway leaders of the Primeira Liga, face a Benfica side desperate for a positive result under Mourinho in the quarterfinals of the competition.
How do Porto and Benfica come into this match?
Porto sit top of the Primeira Liga and remain unbeaten this season. In the previous round of the Taça de Portugal, the Dragons cruised to a 4–1 victory over FC Famalicão with little trouble.
Benfica, meanwhile, come off a painful defeat to Braga in the Allianz Cup and currently sit third in the Primeira Liga, ten points behind league leaders Porto. In the fifth round of the Taça, The Eagles defeated Farense 2–0.
Mourinho specially prepared Benfica to face Porto
The 3–1 loss to Braga in the Allianz Cup semifinals left deep scars. Beyond missing out on a potential final against Vitória de Guimarães, the result triggered an immediate response from Mourinho, who decided to keep the squad together for several days at the Seixal training complex.
The message was clear: reflect, correct mistakes, and strengthen unity. With Benfica trailing Porto by ten points in the league, the Portuguese Cup has become the most realistic path to salvaging the season and giving purpose to Mourinho’s second spell at the club.
Reaching the semifinals would not only keep title hopes alive, but also provide a crucial morale boost for a team that has faced constant criticism throughout the campaign.
