**2017–18 Taça de Portugal**
**Definition:**
The 2017–18 Taça de Portugal was the 78th edition of Portugal’s premier knockout football cup competition. Organized by the Portuguese Football Federation, the tournament featured clubs from various tiers of Portuguese football competing for the national cup title.
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# 2017–18 Taça de Portugal
The 2017–18 Taça de Portugal was the 78th season of the Taça de Portugal, the main knockout football cup competition in Portugal. The tournament began in August 2017 and concluded with the final held on 20 May 2018 at the Estádio Nacional in Oeiras. The competition featured teams from the top three tiers of Portuguese football, as well as representatives from the lower divisions, providing a platform for clubs across the country to compete for one of the most prestigious trophies in Portuguese football.
## Overview
The Taça de Portugal is an annual knockout tournament organized by the Portuguese Football Federation (Federação Portuguesa de Futebol, FPF). It is open to all clubs registered with the FPF, including professional and amateur teams. The 2017–18 edition followed the traditional format, with single-elimination rounds leading up to the final. Matches tied after regulation time proceeded to extra time and, if necessary, penalty shootouts.
The winner of the Taça de Portugal earns a spot in the following season’s UEFA Europa League, provided they have not already qualified for European competition through their league position. The cup also offers a chance for lower-tier teams to face top-flight opposition, often resulting in notable upsets and memorable matches.
## Format and Participants
### Competition Format
The 2017–18 Taça de Portugal followed a knockout format consisting of seven rounds:
1. First Round
2. Second Round
3. Third Round
4. Fourth Round
5. Fifth Round (Round of 16)
6. Quarter-finals
7. Semi-finals
8. Final
The first two rounds primarily involved teams from the Campeonato de Portugal (third tier) and district leagues (fourth tier and below). Clubs from the LigaPro (second tier) entered in the second round, while Primeira Liga (top tier) teams joined the competition in the third round.
All rounds up to the semi-finals were decided by a single match. The semi-finals were played over two legs, home and away, with the aggregate score determining the finalists. The final was a single match held at a neutral venue, traditionally the Estádio Nacional in Oeiras.
### Participating Teams
A total of 155 teams participated in the 2017–18 Taça de Portugal. These included:
– 18 teams from the Primeira Liga (first division)
– 19 teams from the LigaPro (second division)
– 72 teams from the Campeonato de Portugal (third division)
– 46 teams from the district leagues (fourth division and below)
The wide participation underscored the inclusive nature of the competition, allowing amateur and semi-professional clubs the opportunity to compete against professional teams.
## Key Dates
– **First Round:** August 2017
– **Second Round:** September 2017
– **Third Round:** October 2017
– **Fourth Round:** November 2017
– **Fifth Round (Round of 16):** December 2017
– **Quarter-finals:** January 2018
– **Semi-finals:** March and April 2018
– **Final:** 20 May 2018
## Tournament Progression
### Early Rounds
The first round featured mostly lower-tier teams, with many matches resulting in decisive victories for stronger sides. However, the early rounds also saw several upsets, with district league teams eliminating higher-ranked opponents, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the cup.
In the second round, LigaPro teams entered the competition, increasing the level of competition. Some lower-tier teams managed to advance further, but many were eliminated by professional sides.
### Entry of Primeira Liga Teams
The third round marked the entry of the 18 Primeira Liga clubs. This round often produces notable matches between top-tier teams and lower-division underdogs. In the 2017–18 edition, several Primeira Liga teams were eliminated early, while others progressed comfortably.
### Later Rounds
From the fourth round onward, the competition intensified as the remaining teams were mostly from the top two divisions. The fifth round (round of 16) and quarter-finals featured several high-profile clashes, with favorites generally prevailing.
### Semi-finals
The semi-finals were contested over two legs. The four teams that reached this stage were:
– Desportivo das Aves
– Sporting CP
– FC Porto
– Rio Ave
Desportivo das Aves, a club from the LigaPro (second division), was a surprise contender, having eliminated several top-tier teams on their way to the semi-finals. Sporting CP and FC Porto, two of Portugal’s “Big Three” clubs, were expected to reach this stage, while Rio Ave was a consistent Primeira Liga side.
In the semi-finals, Desportivo das Aves faced Sporting CP, while FC Porto played against Rio Ave. Desportivo das Aves defeated Sporting CP on aggregate, marking a significant upset. FC Porto overcame Rio Ave to reach the final.
### Final
The final was held on 20 May 2018 at the Estádio Nacional in Oeiras. The match featured Desportivo das Aves and FC Porto. FC Porto were the favorites, having won the competition multiple times in their history.
In a surprising outcome, Desportivo das Aves won the final 2–1, securing their first-ever Taça de Portugal title. The victory was historic for the club, marking their first major trophy and granting them qualification for European competition.
## Notable Highlights
– **Desportivo das Aves’ Cinderella Run:** The club’s journey from the second division to winning the national cup was one of the most remarkable stories of the season. Their success demonstrated the potential for smaller clubs to achieve significant accomplishments in knockout competitions.
– **Early Exits of Big Clubs:** Sporting CP, one of the traditional powerhouses, was eliminated in the semi-finals by Desportivo das Aves. Benfica, another member of the “Big Three,” was knocked out earlier in the competition, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament.
– **European Qualification:** By winning the Taça de Portugal, Desportivo das Aves qualified for the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League, marking their debut in European competition.
## Impact and Legacy
The 2017–18 Taça de Portugal is remembered for its unpredictability and the triumph of an underdog club. Desportivo das Aves’ victory inspired smaller clubs across Portugal, emphasizing the importance of the cup as a competition where any team can succeed regardless of league status.
The tournament also reinforced the Taça de Portugal’s role in Portuguese football as a prestigious competition that complements the league system, offering clubs an alternative route to silverware and European qualification.
## Final Match Details
| Date | Venue | Attendance | Result |
|—————-|———————|————|————————-|
| 20 May 2018 | Estádio Nacional, Oeiras | Approx. 35,000 | Desportivo das Aves 2–1 FC Porto |
### Scorers
– Desportivo das Aves: Nuno Rocha (penalty), Alexandre Guedes
– FC Porto: Hernâni
## Summary of Champions
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Final Score |
|————–|———————-|——————–|————-|
| 2017–18 | Desportivo das Aves | FC Porto | 2–1 |
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# See Also
– Taça de Portugal
– Primeira Liga
– Portuguese Football Federation
– 2017–18 Primeira Liga
– 2017–18 LigaPro
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**Meta Description:**
The 2017–18 Taça de Portugal was the 78th edition of Portugal’s premier knockout football cup, won by Desportivo das Aves in a historic upset over FC Porto. The tournament featured 155 teams from across Portuguese football tiers.