Benfica to face Flamengo and Villarreal in Algarve pre-season friendlies

SL Benfica will play two high-profile pre-season matches at the Estádio do Algarve (Algarve Stadium) next month as part of their preparations for the 2026/27 season.

The Lisbon club will face Brazilian side Flamengo on July 11 before taking on Spanish outfit Villarreal six days later, it announced on its website.

The match against Flamengo is scheduled to kick off at 7.30pm, while the Villarreal fixture will begin at 7.45pm. Both games will be played at the Algarve Stadium, which has become a regular venue for summer friendlies involving major European clubs. Lisbon rival Sporting CP will also play a pre-season friendly against Celtic at the same stadium.

Benfica’s players are due to return to work on June 25 as preparations begin for the new campaign.

The club’s first competitive fixture of the season is scheduled for July 23, when Benfica travel to Switzerland to face St. Gallen in the first leg of the second qualifying round for the Europa League league phase.

The Algarve friendlies will give supporters an early opportunity to see the squad in action before the start of the competitive season, while also bringing two internationally recognised clubs to the region during the summer months.

Flamengo are one of Brazil’s most successful and widely supported clubs, while Villarreal have established themselves among the top teams in Spain in recent years.

Ticket information for both matches is expected to be announced by Benfica in the coming weeks.

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.