A nearly decade-old rivalry in Portuguese women’s basketball is set to reignite as Benfica hosts Sporting, featuring players who have a history with both clubs.
The match, delayed from the sixth round of the Liga Betclic, marks the first time in almost 10 years that the two Lisbon giants will compete in the top-tier women’s league.
This Wednesday evening’s game comes after Sporting’s extended absence from the premier division following their last season in 2016.
The previous encounter on January 24, 2016, saw Benfica secure a 76-67 victory.
A prominent figure connecting both eras is Inês Faustino, who played for Sporting in that 2016 match and now represents Benfica.
Faustino, 33, was an emerging talent a decade ago and is currently Benfica’s third-highest scorer, averaging 11 points per game.
She contributed 8 points and 4 assists for Sporting in their last top-flight game before a series of injuries impacted her season.
Márcia Carvalho, another player from Sporting’s 2016 squad, has also returned to the club this season after a 10-year hiatus.
Carvalho, also 33 and from Angola, shared that her previous departure was “not in the best way” due to injury.
Interestingly, Carvalho also had a stint with Benfica during the 2018-2019 season.
Both teams enter the contest with identical records in the Liga Betclic, holding five wins and two losses after seven matches.
Benfica currently sits in third place, just ahead of fourth-placed Sporting.
They trail league leaders Quinta dos Lombos (8-0) and Imortal (7-1).