The Portuguese Football Federation has announced the full schedule for the Taça de Portugal’s Round of 16, setting the stage for clashes between top-tier teams and lower-division hopefuls. The knockout matches are scheduled to take place over a week, beginning on December 17 and concluding on December 23.
The draw features several "David vs. Goliath" matchups, a hallmark of cup competitions, where teams from Portugal’s top flight (L1) will face clubs from lower divisions. This setup offers the potential for significant upsets as smaller teams vie for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Among the headline fixtures, reigning champions SL Benfica, a top-flight club, will travel to face second-tier SC Farense. Similarly, FC Porto, another L1 giant, will host fellow top-flight team FC Famalicão in a high-profile encounter.
Sporting CP, a major Lisbon club, is set to play against L1 opponent Santa Clara. SC Braga, a consistent performer in the top league, will face a challenge from third-tier Caldas SC.
The complete schedule for the Round of 16, with all times in local Portuguese time (UTC+0), is as follows:
December 17:
Lusitano de Évora (third-tier) vs. AD Fafe (third-tier) – 2:00 PM
AD Vila Meã (lower-division) vs. UD Leiria (second-tier) – 2:00 PM
Casa Pia AC (top-flight) vs. SCU Torreense (second-tier) – 6:30 PM
Vitória SC (top-flight) vs. AFS (top-flight) – 8:00 PM
SC Farense (second-tier) vs. SL Benfica (top-flight) – 8:45 PM
December 18:
Santa Clara (top-flight) vs. Sporting CP (top-flight) – 6:45 PM
FC Porto (top-flight) vs. FC Famalicão (top-flight) – 8:45 PM
December 23:
Caldas SC (third-tier) vs. SC Braga (top-flight) – 6:45 PM