Benfica starts as favourite in women's league as FC Porto enters title race
The Portugal women's football season is underway with Benfica seeking another domestic title after a commanding start that included winning the Super Cup. The Lisbon club beat FC Porto 5-1 on 6 September at Estádio Municipal do Fontelo in Viseu to claim their fourth Super Cup, then opened their league campaign with a 3-0 victory over Racing Power on 12 September at Benfica Campus.
Head coach Ivan Baptista told news agency Lusa that the strong start guarantees nothing. "We have to continue with our feet firmly on the ground and be well aware that there is a lot of work to do," he said. "The season is very long and there are several difficult challenges along the way."
Benfica, the six-time national champions, won 15 and drew three of their 18 league matches last season. This term they face a reshaped competitive landscape.
FC Porto arrival changes dynamics
The FC Porto women's team earned promotion to the top division as champions of the II Liga, replacing relegated Damaiense. Their entry adds a third "big three" club to a league previously dominated by Benfica and Sporting.
Torreense coach Gonçalo Nunes called Porto's arrival "excellent news" for Portuguese football. "We're talking about a club with a giant dimension that will bring a whole new level of attention, media coverage and visibility that will help accelerate growth," he said during a media day organised by the Portuguese Football Federation at Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras.
FC Porto have registered 23 professional players and two amadoras, with 45 athletes total across their squad. The club began the season with a 3-1 win at Valadares Gaia.
Torreense aim to stay "uncomfortable"
SCU Torreense finished third last season and goalkeeper Rute Costa described the club as "one of the most exciting projects" in the league. Coach Gonçalo Nunes, now in his fourth year in Torres Vedras, said the team wants to remain "an uncomfortable Torreense for everyone, but with respect."
The coach tempered title expectations, saying it remains "outside the box" to think Torreense will fight for the championship, though he added: "The beautiful thing about football is that it's always a box of surprises."
Torreense won three trophies in the past 10 months and will compete in European competition this season. They began with a 3-0 victory over Rio Ave.
Professionalisation accelerates across league
The Liga BPI has 236 professional players out of 412 registered athletes this season — 57.2% of the total — nearly double the 125 professionals from five years ago. Sporting leads with 34 professional players, followed by Benfica with 29.
Neide Simões, the only female head coach in the league, takes charge of Valadares Gaia with a focus on avoiding relegation after significant squad changes. "We are a club that tries to create the best project, even without certain financial power," she told Lusa.
The Portuguese Football Federation announced €23 million in investment for women's football this season, with €9.27 million directed to competitions. The strategic plan targets six fully professional teams in the top league by 2029.
Futsal champions set high targets
In women's futsal, Nun'Álvares enter the season as national runners-up. The club from Fafe lost the Super Cup 3-1 to Benfica but captain Lídia Moreira said the objective remains "reaching the finals and winning."
Coach João Paulo called for the club's structure to "urgently work two to three years ahead" to stay competitive. Moreira, who scored 29 goals in 30 games last season, said she joined Nun'Álvares because of the club's ambition.
Fixtures and form guide
Benfica visit Rio Ave on Friday before making their Champions League league phase debut away to Juventus. The opening round saw Sporting Braga beat Marítimo 5-0, Sporting defeat Vitória de Guimarães 2-0, and Torreense beat Rio Ave 3-0.
Benfica captain Pauleta said the team aims to win every domestic trophy. "We don't shy away from admitting we want to win all titles in Portugal," the midfielder said. "Our ambition is to win titles, whoever it's against."
The league now has 10 teams after restructuring last season, with every match carrying weight in a condensed schedule. The German coach of Sporting Braga, Marwin Bolz, noted: "A 10-team championship is difficult because every game is decisive.
