For benfica vs porto, fans will see a reworked Benfica spine and a heavily rotated Porto XI—changes that could shift the title race by night’s end. Sunday at 2: 00 p. m. ET, the confirmed lineups show José Mourinho benching António Silva while Francesco Farioli again swaps six starters from midweek.
António Silva sits; Tomás Araújo, Ríos and Barrenechea start for Benfica
Benfica’s immediate change is structural: Tomás Araújo returns to central defense, pushing António Silva to the bench, while Richard Ríos and Enzo Barrenechea form a new double pivot. Those three alterations reshape the core of José Mourinho’s side for this 25th round of the I Liga.
Mourinho’s XI reads: Anatoliy Trubin; Amar Dedic, Tomás Araújo, Nicolás Otamendi, Samuel Dahl; Enzo Barrenechea and Richard Ríos; Gianluca Prestianni, Rafa Silva, Andreas Schjelderup; Vangelis Pavlidis. Leandro Barreiro, described with physical limitations, is among nine substitutes, while Fredrik Aursnes remains out injured after starting the previous league round in Barcelos.
Farioli’s FC Porto rotation: Bednarek starts, Pietuszewski and Deniz Gul included
On the other side, Francesco Farioli keeps the rotation policy that marked midweek at Alvalade in the Taça de Portugal, altering six positions from that cup tie. Jan Bednarek starts despite a rib concern, anchoring a back line that also features Jakub Kiwior and the young Martim Fernandes.
FC Porto’s XI is Diogo Costa; Alberto Costa, Jan Bednarek, Jakub Kiwior, Martim Fernandes; Alan Varela, Victor Froholdt, Gabri Veiga; Pepê, Oskar Pietuszewski, Deniz Gul. The bench stacks attacking options—Terem Moffi, William Gomes, and Borja Sainz—along with Seko Fofana and Francisco Moura, a reversal from the midweek roles.
Estádio da Luz kickoff at 6: 00 p. m. Lisbon (2: 00 p. m. ET) under João Pinheiro
Kickoff at the Estádio da Luz is 6: 00 p. m. local time (2: 00 p. m. ET), with João Pinheiro, from the Braga association, appointed to referee. This is the third meeting between the clubs this season: a 0-0 league draw at the Dragão and a 1-0 FC Porto win in the Taça de Portugal quarterfinals set today’s competitive baseline.
The standings raise the stakes. FC Porto lead the Primeira Liga on 65 points, three ahead of Sporting, who drew 2-2 away at SC Braga on Saturday, and seven clear of Benfica in third. That framework turns selection choices into leverage: Benfica’s retooled spine challenges Porto’s six-position shuffle in a direct attempt to alter both gaps in a single 90-minute window.
With lineups locked, benfica vs porto becomes a study in balance and risk. Benfica place responsibility on a fresh central pairing and a Ríos–Barrenechea axis, while Porto look for output from Pietuszewski and Deniz Gul alongside Pepê. Each side signals intent through personnel, not just shape, as the league’s 25th round tests depth and nerve.
The final stakes are simple and numeric. If FC Porto take all three points, they move six clear of Sporting based on results already on the board. If Benfica win, they cut the seven-point gap to the leaders. The whistle goes at 2: 00 p. m. ET under João Pinheiro, with all eyes on how these six and three changes translate on the table.
