Nacional Triumphs in Trás-os-Montes, Boosting Madeira’s Cup Ambitions

When the referee blew for full-time on a windswept afternoon in Trás-os-Montes, Clube Desportivo Nacional had done more than defeat a spirited Rebordelo side. The Madeiran club booked its ticket to the next phase of the Taça de Portugal, reminded neutral fans of its enduring Cup pedigree and, perhaps most importantly, gathered a dose of confidence for the long Liga 2 season ahead.

Why this cup tie mattered beyond the scoreboard

For supporters on the island, mid-season trips to the mainland are almost routine, yet cup night still carries a special buzz. The Taça de Portugal often delivers David-versus-Goliath storylines, and this encounter was no exception: Nacional, a fully professional outfit once famous for polishing a young Cristiano Ronaldo, against GD Rebordelo, a village team whose ground borders chestnut groves. A stumble here would have been headline material; instead, the visitors imposed their rhythm early, quelled any nerves and underlined their ambition to stretch their run into the winter rounds.

How Nacional unlocked Rebordelo’s resistance

Manager Tiago Margarido asked his players to press high from the opening whistle. The tactic paid off inside the first quarter-hour when a sharp interchange down the left ended with a low cross that was bundled home at the near post. Rebordelo, cheered on by a capacity crowd that had queued from mid-morning, tried to respond with direct balls behind the defence, yet Nacional’s centre-back pairing stood firm. A second strike just before the break tilted the tie decisively; from then on, the islanders managed possession, drew fouls and conserved legs for the flight back to Funchal.

A Madeira vs Trás-os-Montes postcard

Beyond the ninety minutes, this fixture was a collision of distinct Portuguese geographies. Nacional left mild, Atlantic-kissed Funchal on Friday night, landing in Porto before a three-hour coach ride to Bragança district. Rebordelo, meanwhile, relished the chance to host professionals—local cafés extended opening hours, and schoolchildren skipped afternoon classes to wave flags at the team bus. The Cup, once again, stitched together archipelago and mainland, highlighting why it remains the country’s most democratic competition.

What comes next in the Taça path

Nacional will learn its fourth-round opponent when the FPF conducts Monday’s draw in Oeiras. The Madeirans could face a top-flight giant or, if luck holds, another lower-tier side. Either way, progression keeps potential television revenue alive: for clubs outside the Primeira Liga, a deep Cup run can mean six-figure prize money plus nationwide exposure. Rebordelo’s journey ends here, yet their share of gate receipts and an unforgettable afternoon against professional opposition amount to a victory of another kind.

Side stories you may have missed

The match served as a showcase for Dudu, Nacional’s 21-year-old winger who registered an assist and drove defenders to distraction; scouts from two Primera División clubs were spotted in the main stand. In the stands, Madeira expatriates unfurled a banner reading “Ilha da Madeira está convosco”, reinforcing the diaspora bond. And for trivia lovers: this was the first time since 2016 that a national-league side from the archipelago played a competitive fixture in Vinhais municipality, a reminder of just how vast—and football-crazy—Portugal remains from coastline to hinterland.