Benfica and Sporting will face off on May 10 in what could be a title-deciding match for both sides
Lisbon is bracing for a football finale for the ages, as the possibility of the Primeira Liga title being decided at the iconic Estádio da Luz has city officials on high alert.
The league is currently led by Lisbon rivals Sporting CP and SL Benfica, each with 69 points and just five matches to go until the season’s end. If they win their next three matches, they’ll both arrive at the Lisbon derby – scheduled for May 10 at Estádio da Luz – tied on points. Sporting, however, hold the tiebreaker thanks to their 1-0 win in the reverse fixture. So, a win there – even by a single goal – would hand them the title. Benfica, on the other hand, would need to win by at least two to take the edge. A draw would drag the title fight into the final fixture of the season.
This high-stakes scenario has authorities already making preparations for all possible outcomes, according to sports newspaper Record.
Behind the scenes, the Lisbon City Council, led by Carlos Moedas, has already activated emergency planning. Police forces and civil protection authorities are reportedly being mobilised. The goal is to ensure that title celebrations from either side do not descend into pandemonium.
Says Record, a title victory for the home team will, in theory, be easier to manage for authorities. The paper explains that most of the crowd in the stands will be Benfica fans, and Sporting supporters will be confined to their usual away section – known as the ‘caixa’ or “box” – located at the north end of the stadium. They’ll remain there until it’s safe for them to exit, minimising potential conflicts.
However, if Sporting comes out on top, things could get trickier. Sporting’s team bus will need to be safely escorted from Estádio da Luz back to their own stadium, Estádio José Alvalade. There, they would likely switch to their traditional open-top bus for the victory parade to the celebration point – the Marquês de Pombal roundabout, usually referred to simply as Marquês. During all this, Sporting fans who attended the match at Luz will need to be heavily escorted by authorities. Additionally, the security perimeter around Luz would need to be expanded, to prevent any kind of trouble or clashes between rival fans.
No matter who lifts the trophy, one thing is guaranteed: the Marquês will be the heart of the celebration. A stage is being built and lights installed – ready to shine either in Benfica red or Sporting green. The infrastructure won’t change. Just the colour of the party.
City council officials are hoping, however, that the title race stays alive until the final week, sparing the capital from derby-night madness.
