Get ready, Portugal! The Liga Portugal Legends tournament is back, bringing classic football stars and fierce rivalries out of retirement (or maybe just off the golf course) and onto the sand. The draw for this year`s edition, set for the sun-drenched sands of Nazaré from July 25th to 27th, has just been completed, mapping out the initial path to glory.
This competition revives some of the most memorable figures to grace Portuguese pitches, giving fans a chance to see their heroes compete once more, albeit in a slightly different setting – the beach!
The Preliminary Stage: A Gauntlet for Qualification
The tournament kicks off with an initial phase featuring nine teams. They`ve been sorted into three groups, each battling for a coveted spot in the final stage. Only the top team from each group and the single best runner-up will make it through to join the big guns.
Here`s how the preliminary groups shaped up:
- Group A: Casa Pia AC, Leixões SC, Gil Vicente FC
- Group B: Académico, FC Arouca, U. Leiria
- Group C: SCU Torreense, SC Farense, Estrela Amadora
The Waiting Giants: Direct Entry to the Finals
But wait, there`s more! Five of Portuguese football`s heavyweights don`t have to bother with the preliminaries. Sporting CP, as the reigning champions from the previous edition, are joined directly in the final phase by the top finishers from the recent Liga Portugal Betclic season: SL Benfica, FC Porto, SC Braga, and Vitória SC.
These giants await the four survivors from the initial phase, who will join them to form the final groups of nine teams. The structure for the final groups is as follows:
- Final Group A: FC Porto, Vitória SC, Winner of Preliminary Group C
- Final Group B: SL Benfica, Best Preliminary Runner-Up, Winner of Preliminary Group B
- Final Group C: Sporting CP, SC Braga, Winner of Preliminary Group A
A Title on the Line
This marks the third edition of the Liga Portugal Legends. The list of previous champions features Vitória SC, who claimed the inaugural title, and Sporting CP, who triumphed last year. Now, the stage is set in Nazaré – a town usually known for monstrous waves, but soon to host some monstrous talent (albeit perhaps slightly less mobile than in their prime).
The draw is done, the paths are set. Will we see a third different winner hoist the trophy on the sands, or can Sporting CP become the first to defend their crown? Or perhaps Vitória SC will reclaim their spot at the top? The answers will be found when these former glories hit the beach at the end of July.
