Sere months after sensationally beating Sporting in the final of the Portuguese Football Cup, Torreense will begin the defense of the unprecedented trophy against Benfica, record holder of titles in the competition, in the fourth round of the 2026/27 season.
The draw held today at Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras, determined the ‘reds’ travel to the home of the trophy holder, 16th and second to last placed in the II League, and was even more benevolent for Sporting and FC Porto, who will host União da Serra, from the Portuguese Championship, and Paredes, from League 3, respectively.
The fourth round of the current edition of the Portuguese Cup, whose games are scheduled for November 21st and 22nd and which marks the entry into the scene of teams participating in European competitions (including newcomer Torreense), also provides a clash between ‘neighbors’ Vitória de Guimarães and Sporting de Braga, respectively, 13th and ninth placed in the I League.
Currently second in the top flight, Benfica is the club with the most titles won in the ‘queen competition’ of Portuguese football, with 26, but has not lifted the scepter for nine years, since 2016/17, and will be on alert for Torreense’s ability to surprise, despite the future opponent being currently sunk in the ‘red zone’ of the II League.
On May 24, in the middle of the two play-off games for promotion to the I League – which they would lose to Casa Pia -, the Torres Vedras club became the first below the main division to win the Portuguese Cup, by winning 2-1 against Sporting, the previous winner of the competition, after extra time, in the final played at the National Stadium, in Oeiras.
The ‘lions’, the third most titled club, with 18 trophies, will have a smooth entry into the 2026/27 edition, against União da Serra, fifth placed in Series 3 of the Portuguese Championship, the fourth national division, at a time when criticism of coach Rui Borges increases, following the defeat suffered on Sunday, against Académico de Viseu, by 2-1.
The defeat in the match of the ninth round of the I League left Sporting nine points away from FC Porto, the 100% victorious leader and the second club with the most titles in the Portuguese Cup (20), for which today’s draw was also generous, placing Paredes, commander, like the ‘dragons’, but from Series A of League 3, in their path.
Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting are still certain that they will not face each other before the quarter-finals, as the draw for the ‘eighths’ was also made today and ruled out the possibility of clashes between the three ‘bigs’ in the matches scheduled for the period between December 15th and 17th.
If they confirm their favoritism in the fourth round, Benfica will play at home with the winner of AVS-Tondela, both from the II League, FC Porto will visit the team that prevails between União de Leiria (II League) and Leça (Liga 3) and Sporting could receive a first division match, as they will face the winner of the clash between Atlético, from Liga 3, and Casa Pia, from the I League.
Olhanense, the only ‘survivor’ of the district championships that remains in action, will find it very difficult to continue the adventure, as they travel to the stronghold of Gil Vicente, ranked seventh in the first division, after having left two teams from the Portuguese Championship along the way: Portel and Oliveira do Hospital.
