A Portuguese Cup match next Saturday will see three new U. Leiria players face their former club, Alverca, with two currently on loan from the opponent, adding a layer of intrigue to the third-round tie.
Júnior Mendes and Sema Velásquez are both currently on a season-long loan to U. Leiria from Alverca. This direct connection means they will compete against their parent club in the upcoming knockout fixture.
Miguel Pires, another recent U. Leiria signing, also returns to face Alverca. He was a key figure in Alverca’s ascent through the Portuguese leagues, representing the club from the 2020/21 season.
Mendes, though on loan from Alverca, has not yet played any official matches for the club he is currently contracted to. Sema Velásquez, like Mendes, is on a one-year loan deal.
The fixture is part of the third round of the Taça de Portugal, Portugal’s national cup competition.