Benfica will begin their Europa League campaign away against AC Milan on September 16, just four days before visiting Portuguese league champions FC Porto. The schedules for European club competitions were released on Saturday, establishing key fixture dates for Portugal's top teams.
The match in Milan will see Benfica face manager Ruben Amorim and forward Gonçalo Ramos. Four days later, on Sunday, September 20, Benfica travel to the Estádio do Dragão to play Porto in domestic league action. The clash was set for Sunday because the following Monday marks the start of an international fixture window, when club competitions cannot be held.
Champions League Openers for Porto and Sporting
In the Champions League, FC Porto start their European campaign at home against English champions Manchester City, featuring striker Erling Haaland, on September 8. Sporting CP will also begin their campaign at home, hosting Turkish side Galatasaray.
The fixture brings Galatasaray's new signing Rafael Leão back to his former club, where he developed in the youth ranks prior to a contentious exit that fans have never forgiven. Sporting's schedule features a difficult final stage, with their theoretically strongest opponents scheduled for the final four matchdays of the league phase.
Braga's Conference League Schedule
In the Conference League, Sp. Braga have confirmed their six match schedule for the autumn stage. The team open with an away match against Copenhagen on October 15 before hosting Belgian club Gent on October 22.
Braga travel to face Danish side Aarhus on November 5 and host Finnish team KuPS on November 26. Their campaign concludes with a trip to Norwegian club Brann on December 10 and a home fixture against Albanian team Egnatia on December 17.
Transfer Links and European Opponents
Transfer reports linked El Karouani with a move to Benfica, while Galatasaray have set their target on midfielder Ríos. In other European action, Torreense face a group including Real Sociedad, Olympiacos, and Sunderland.
