Today at 6:00 PM, decisive matches of the final day of the Primeira Liga football season will take place, featuring Sporting versus Vitória de Guimarães in Lisbon and Sporting de Braga against Benfica in Braga.
The Public Security Police (PSP) has classified these matches as “high risk” events given that the results will determine the national football champion.
The title contention is between Sporting and Benfica, two teams from Lisbon, with celebrations anticipated to occur at Marquês de Pombal, the traditional site for both clubs’ victories.
The police anticipate temporary traffic disruptions in Lisbon before the match, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and after the event, particularly around the Alvalade stadium. These routes include Avenida Padre Cruz, Rua Professor Moniz Pereira, Rua Professor Fernando da Fonseca, Rua António Stromp, Rua Francisco Stromp, Rua Cipriano Dourado, Alameda das Linhas de Torres, Campo Grande, and 2ª Circular.
In the vicinity of Marquês de Pombal Square, the PSP will gradually implement road restrictions starting at 3:00 PM until the end of the celebration, affecting the Campo Grande/Marquês de Pombal axis. This includes road closures at the Entrecampos roundabout, Avenida da República, Praça Duque de Saldanha, and Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo, and the closure of the Campo Grande tunnel towards Saldanha.
Traffic restrictions are also expected on routes accessing Marquês de Pombal Square, specifically at Praça de Espanha, Amoreiras (Avenida Engenheiro Duarte Pacheco, with closures and isolation of the Marquês tunnel and Rua Joaquim António de Aguiar), Restauradores, Rua Braamcamp, Avenida Duque de Loulé, Rua Martens Ferrão, and Rua Tomás Ribeiro.
According to the PSP, the perimeter area of the improvised venue at Marquês will be gradually consolidated with access points established. Entry, subject to PSP control and inspection, will be allowed at a time yet to be determined, but not before 8:00 PM.
Apart from traffic restrictions, numerous commercial establishments in Lisbon face operational hour constraints. Nearly 20 establishments near José Alvalade Stadium will be affected from 1:00 PM today to 7:00 AM on Sunday, and around 60 near Marquês de Pombal Square from 5:00 PM, as per a municipal dispatch citing safety reasons at the PSP’s request.
For the city of Lisbon’s reception of the championship-winning team on Monday, two dozen establishments near Paços do Concelho will also have restricted hours from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Metro stations at Parque, Marquês de Pombal, Avenida, and Picoas will close to the public today from 5:30 PM due to the significant influx of football fans expected in the Marquês de Pombal area.
In Braga, Rua de S. Martinho will experience temporary traffic closures today between 4:20 PM and 4:40 PM to allow the passage of the Sporting de Braga and Benfica teams.
Post-match, as teams depart, additional traffic closures may occur in Braga at times yet to be announced.
In light of the national football champion celebrations, the PSP reiterated its commitment to conducting a “complex, dynamic, and large-scale police operation” nationwide, especially in Lisbon and Braga, involving various resources and personnel.
Sporting and Benfica enter the 34th matchday of the Primeira Liga with equal standings at 79 points. In the event of a tie, Sporting will claim the championship due to their head-to-head advantage over Benfica.
