March 8, 2026 at 4: 51 p. m. ET — José Mourinho previewed the Benfica vs porto clássico at Estádio da Luz, noting the team’s recent struggles against top domestic rivals as Otamendi and Bednarek return to the starting lineups. The match closes the regular season and carries immediate title implications.
Why now: this fixture is decisive because it ends the last round of the phase where points will be halved for the second stage, meaning the outcome reshapes the starting totals for the title run-in and could move FC Porto within three points of the leader.
Benfica Vs Porto starting XIs include Otamendi and Bednarek
Benfica’s confirmed eleven lists Trubin; Dedic, Tomás Araújo, Otamendi and Dahl; Richard Ríos and Barrenechea; Prestianni, Rafa and Schjelderup; Pavlidis. Otamendi is recovered and in the Benfica starting XI for the clássico.
FC Porto’s starting line features Diogo Costa; Alberto Costa, Bednarek, Kiwior and Martim Fernandes; Alan Varela, Froholdt and Gabri Veiga; Pepê, Deniz Gul and Pietuszewski. Bednarek has recovered and is a starter for the dragões, with Martim Fernandes also returning from injury.
The two squads also named benches: Benfica listed Samuel Soares, António Silva, Bah, Ivanovic, Sudakov, Lukebakio, Manu Silva, Leandro Barreiro and Anísio Cabral as substitutes. FC Porto’s substitutes include Cláudio Ramos, Thiago Silva, William Gomes, Pablo Rosario, Borja Sainz, Terem Moffi, Fofana, Francisco Moura and Rodrigo Mora.
Mourinho’s assessment and recent results since he took charge in September
José Mourinho said that Sporting and FC Porto’s coaches are better than he is, and pointed to the fact that, since he took the Benfica job in September, the team has not beaten FC Porto, Sporting and SC Braga. Mourinho emphasized that Benfica has been competitive in those matches, with draws and narrow losses leaving supporters believing a win is possible at the Luz.
Final-round math: how points and halving change the title race
This match ends the regular phase and directly affects the point totals that will be halved for the second phase. If both FC Porto and Benfica were to lose, the dragões would finish with 58 points under the scenario described, while Sporting would reach 63 points; halving those totals would leave Sporting with 33 points and both Benfica and FC Porto with 29 points for the next stage.
If FC Porto wins in the Luz, the team would rise to 60 points and sit three points behind the first-place team at the end of the regular season, a shift that would significantly narrow the gap heading into the second phase.
Coaches and players responded to the stakes: Mourinho provided his pre-match comments in the build-up, and Gilberto Duarte reflected on the atmosphere and significance of the game for FC Porto, noting that a win would equalize Porto and Benfica in the standings and set the tone for the second phase.
Next confirmed event: the clássico at Estádio da Luz is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 4: 51 p. m. ET. If FC Porto wins, the club will move to 60 points and narrow the gap to the leader by three points for the second phase.
