Sporting have been crowned Portuguese volleyball champions for the second consecutive season, securing the club’s eighth national title in dominant fashion. The Lions defeated Benfica 3-0 in Game 3 of the playoff final at the João Rocha Arena, completing the series without dropping a single match.
João Coelho’s team won with set scores of 25-18, 25-17, and 25-19, finishing an almost flawless domestic campaign. Sporting became the 79th national champion in Portuguese volleyball history and achieved back-to-back titles for the first time since the 1991/92 and 1992/93 seasons.
Unlike last season, when Sporting had to overturn a 0-2 deficit against Benfica in the final, this year’s triumph was far more comfortable. Across the playoff stage, Sporting did not lose a single set and dropped only nine sets throughout the entire regular season, where their only defeat came in the opening round against Leixões.
The Lisbon derby final once again highlighted Sporting’s superiority this season. Strong serving from Edson Valencia and Jan Galabov constantly disrupted Benfica’s reception, while Sporting dominated at the net through efficient attacking and solid blocking.
After a balanced start in the first set, Sporting took control with decisive scoring runs. The second and third sets followed a similar pattern, with Benfica unable to recover despite several tactical changes and timeouts from coach Marcel Matz.
The victory also marked Sporting’s tenth consecutive win over Benfica, seven of which came during the current season. Sporting defeated their rivals in the league, playoffs, Super Cup, and Portuguese Cup final, fully dominating the Lisbon rivalry throughout the campaign.
Since the league adopted the playoff format for the final, Sporting and Benfica have now met six times in the title series, with both clubs tied at three victories each.
Sporting’s path to the title was exceptional: after finishing the regular season with a 21-1 record, they eliminated Gondomar, Vitória de Guimarães, and Benfica in the playoffs without losing a single match.
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