By far the most high profile game of the season so far kicks off at Portimão’s refurbished city-centre ground today…

Benfica are the visitors for the 8.15pm FA Cup third round tie which will be watched by a 6,000-strong full house hoping that Portimonense can maintain their proud record of never having lost to the Lisbonites at home in the knock-out competition. In 1965, the Eagles recovered from a 2-0 setback to draw 2-2 in the Algarve before relying on a Eusebio hat-trick to take the return match 5-1 in the capital.

Sixteen years later the two sides fought out a goalless draw over 120 minutes, the replay again ending in Benfica’s favour with Reinaldo scoring the only goal of the game.

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