Benfica ready to kick off Taca da Liga

 

This Thursday night, the floodlights will flicker on at the Estadio da Luz and Benfica will step onto the pitch to launch their latest Taca da Liga campaign against Gil Vicente. In any other era, this quarter-final clash would be a celebration of domestic intent. Instead, it serves as the opening act of a tournament undergoing a severe identity crisis.

Make no mistake, the history here belongs entirely to the Eagles. Benfica remains the undisputed king of this competition, boasting a record eight Taca da Liga titles. Their golden era, a ruthless stretch of four consecutive trophies between 2009 and 2012, defined the tournament’s early years.

Yet, dominance is a fleeting thing. While they broke a nearly decade-long drought by dramatically capturing their last league cup in the 2024–25 season via a 7–6 penalty shootout against Sporting, last year’s crown slipped away to Vitoria de Guimaraes.

Now, under manager Marco Silva, the pressure to bring the silverware back to Lisbon is immense. But as the team gears up for this high-stakes knockout format, they do so against a backdrop of deep institutional tension. The tournament has been stripped down, redesigned into a top-heavy commercial package tailored more for international television rights than local passion.

When Benfica steps out this week under the lights of the Luz, they must be sharp from the opening whistle. In this uncompromising, winner-take-all knockout format, Silva's Eagles begin a high-stakes sprint to reclaim a cup that has long defined their domestic supremacy.

Red hot Benfica reign supreme in Nicosia

Benfica continued their flawless run in the UEFA Europa League with a dominant 4-1 victory over Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus. Marco Silva's side asserted their authority early on, breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute when Claudio Echeverri’s header deflected off Loïc Nego into the net. Omonia fought back before the break, equalizing through a close-range header from Andronikos Kakoulis.

Second-Half Masterclass

The Portuguese giants took complete control in the second half. Vangelis Pavlidis restored the lead just four minutes after the restart, capitalizing on a rebound. As pressure mounted on the hosts, Fredrik Aursnes intercepted a poor pass to slot home a third in the 76th minute. Gianluca Prestianni capped off the clinical performance in the 85th minute, converting a low cross from Dodi Lukebakio.

This victory leaves Benfica sitting alone at the top of the Europa League table. The Eagles boast a perfect record of three wins from three matches, having previously defeated AC Milan 2-0 and Celtic 4-1. With 10 goals scored and only two conceded, they look like serious contenders for the title.

Benfica watch Monza striker Varela but what rights do they hold

 

Benfica are monitoring Gustavo Varela's explosive start at Monza. Reports disagree on whether a return is close and on what the Eagles can actually do.

From the Seixal Academy to Italy

Varela joined Benfica in January 2022, played from the Under-17s up to the B team, and made his first-team debut against Rio Ave in May 2024. Newly promoted Monza signed him permanently on 27 July until 2030, paying €2.5 million, with Benfica keeping 20 per cent of a future sale.

Buy-Back or Match Clause?

The extra clause is where the reports split. Record says it is a €9.5 million buy-back and claims Benfica are preparing to trigger it. A Bola says no decision has been made. It reports an undisclosed buy-back fee, expected to be around €10 million. Gianluca Di Marzio disagrees, saying no buy-back exists and that Benfica can only match other clubs' offers. Sapo Portugal likewise describes a right to match any offer.

Varela's Season and Career Path

Before the sale, Varela spent the 2025-26 on loan at Gil Vicente, scoring seven goals in 33 matches. Monza is his only club since leaving Benfica permanently in the summer. He has scored six league goals to date and sits second in Serie A's golden boot race.

What Next for Benfica?

Benfica reportedly feel Monza's style differs from what they want in their squad. They plan to assess the situation before deciding on how they will move forward. Until the contract details are confirmed, the buy-back versus match-clause question to date remains unresolved as various sources can not agree on exactly what it is.