An Auction for “O Clássico”
When we talk about Portuguese football, there are two names that instantly come to mind: SL Benfica and FC Porto. No historical account of the Primeira Liga would be complete without an exhaustive description of these clubs and the rivalry that exists between them.
It is an old rivalry - very old. It reaches back to 1912, before the creation of the first European cup, before even the creation of the first Primeira Liga, when the clubs met for a friendly in the city of Porto. Fast-forward to 2023, and there have now been 222 total confrontations: among which are some of the most entertaining matches ever to take place upon a football field.
The results have varied over the years, with both teams dominating at different points in time, but what has remained unaltered is the fervour inspired by a derby. In Portugal the matches are referred to as “O Clássico”, and watching them, it’s easy to understand why. When these two sporting titans go head to head, it doesn’t feel like a game; it feels like a battle.
Passions are always blazing between Benfica and Porto, but right now there’s more reason than usual for fans to feel rivalrous, as the 2022-23 season saw major trophies divided between the two clubs. Benfica won the Primeira Liga; Porto won the Taça da Liga. Which means that this derby match, the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, will inevitably be viewed as a place to settle the question of who currently possesses the superior squad.
It also means that this is the ideal moment for us to announce our first auction for both teams involved. In recent years the Portuguese league has shown itself to be one of the most impressive in international football, so naturally we are elated at having partnered with two of its primary powerhouses. From kick-off, fans can begin placing bids on two collections of shirts: match-issued ones for Porto and match-worn ones for Benfica.
This derby promises to be an unforgettable game, but of course that’s just a turn of phrase. All memories fade: unlike the fabric in your hand, the shirt framed upon your wall.