Sporting CP and Benfica are crashing the Champions League party, shattering Liga Portugal’s farm league label.
While plenty of talent runs through Portugal before it reaches LaLiga or the Premier League, Sporting CP’s 2-0 win over Tottenham and Benfica’s 2-1 away win over Juventus prove Liga Portugal is here to compete.
Both teams are undefeated in Champions League play, leaving mangled Serie A, Premier League, and Bundesliga squads in their wake.
Sporting currently sits atop Group D ahead of Marseille, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Tottenham.
Sporting has beaten Tottenham and Eintracht Frankfurt by a combined score of 5-0. Marseille should be no problem for an in-form Sporting, poised to win the group.
Benfica is in second place in Group H behind PSG.
Benfica has convincingly defeated Maccabi Haifa and Juventus by a combined score of 4-1, but the road to the group summit runs through Paris. Benfica can still easily advance to the elimination round.
Athletic Interest recently did a great deep dive into why Portugal is considered a farmer’s league – check it out below.
“Having more than half of their income dependent on selling players almost guarantees that Benfica will never reclaim their place at the summit of European football.”
Benfica and Sporting CP look ready to break free from their vicious transfer cycles in this year’s Champions League.
Featured Image: Pexels/Greta Hoffman/SLBenfica/SportingCP/UEFAChampionsLeague/DM