Sporting CP came out on top in the Lisbon derby, beating SL Benfica 3-1 in their women’s volleyball league clash on Saturday, December 7, 2025. The game was played at Pavilhão João Rocha and counted for round 9 of the Portuguese Divisão 1.

The opening set was tight, with both sides fighting hard, but Sporting managed to edge ahead and close it out 25-21. Benfica didn’t take long to answer back though. In the second set, they looked much sharper, controlled the rallies, and won it comfortably 25-16 to even things up.

The third set turned out to be the real turning point. Sporting regained their rhythm and dominated, taking it 25-15. Benfica’s coach admitted afterwards that this was the set where things slipped away, as his team made too many errors that cost them dearly.

With momentum on their side, Sporting carried that energy into the fourth set. They started strong, kept their focus, and managed to hold off Benfica’s push to seal the match 25-23.

Sporting CP’s Leslie Leyva Tagle was the top scorer of the match with 17 points, while her teammate Anahí Tosi added 15. On the Benfica side, American Claudia Dillon was their top performer, finishing with 11 points.

For Sporting, this win was a big boost, especially since Benfica had beaten them 3-0 in the Super Cup earlier in the season.

Photos: Sporting CP