Braga Stuns Benfica: 3‑1 Victory Seals Taça da Liga Final Spot – 7 January 2026

On 7 January 2026, Benfica and Braga met in a Taça da Liga (Portuguese League Cup) semifinal at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria, with a place in the final on the line. The match kicked off at around 20:00 UTC as part of one of Portugal’s key domestic cup competitions. Sports Mole+1

Before the game, Benfica were defending champions of the League Cup and had enjoyed a strong run of form, while Braga’s recent results had been mixed, including a draw with Benfica in the league late in 2025. Daily Sports

In a surprising and exciting evening, Braga took the lead and eventually won the match 3‑1, knocking Benfica out of the competition and advancing to the final. Fans followed the game with live updates, discussing key moments, referee decisions, and dynamic swings in the match as the scoreline developed. (Live fan discussions showed Braga giving Benfica a hard time in play threads during the game.) Reddit

This result was a notable cup upset, with Braga’s performance earning them a place in the next round and leaving Benfica to focus on other competitions for the rest of the season.