League Cup: the road to the final in Leiria

Benfica faces Sporting this Saturday, January 11, at the Estádio Municipal de Leiria – Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, in the final of the League Cup, with the aim of winning this trophy for the 8th time and thus consolidating their status as the most decorated club in the competition.

Seven wins in eight finals are Benfica's tally in the competition, which has a new format for the 2024/25 season, which has put two obstacles in the way of the eagles that have since been overcome with force. Last Wednesday, January 8, already in the semi-finals, the Reds beat SC Braga in Leiria 3-0, with goals from Álvaro Carreras and (a brace) from Di María.

Earlier, in the quarter-finals, Benfica beat Santa Clara, also 3-0, in a match played on October 30, 2024, at the Estádio da Luz, with goals from Di María and a brace from Pavlidis.

Sporting reached the final after beating Nacional (3-1) in the quarter-finals and FC Porto (1-0) in the semi-finals.

With six goals to their name, Benfica are the most prolific team in the competition and Di María is one of the top scorers in this edition of the League Cup, with three goals.

Looking at the Eagles' collective performance in the 2024/25 League Cup, we can see that 72 attacks were made, which led to 38 shots and 27 crosses.

In the history of League Cup duels, there have been four matches between Benfica and Sporting. The Reds have won two and drawn one, with a goal difference of 8-5.

Benfica, as the club with the most titles in the League Cup, outscored their opponents in 2015/16, 2014/15, 2013/14, 2011/12, 2010/11, 2009/10 and 2008/09, scoring 142 goals in the 70 matches played (an average of 2.03 per game), the best attack in the competition. It should also be noted that the Glorioso are the team with the most games won in the competition: 46.