Host country Portugal Runners-up Sporting CP Dates 2 Aug 2008 – 21 Mar 2009 Teams 32 Matches played 53 | Champions Benfica (1st title) Top scorer(s) Liédson (4) Champion S.L. Benfica Goals scored 124 | |
Similar 2010–11 Taça da Liga, 2007–08 Taça da Liga, 2008–09 Primeira Liga, 2007–08 Primeira Liga, 2010–11 Primeira Liga | ||
The 2008–09 Taça da Liga was the second edition of the Taça da Liga, also known as Carlsberg Cup due to sponsorship reasons. The first matches were played on August 2, 2008, and the final was held on March 21, 2009, at the Estádio Algarve in Faro. Present for the second time in the final of this competition, Sporting were once again defeated 3–2 on penalties, this time by their rivals S.L. Benfica.
Contents
Format
After the first season, a change in the format was approved by the Portuguese League for Professional Football. The Cup began with a two-legged round between teams from Liga de Honra (2nd level). Winners were joined by the clubs classified 7th–14th from last season's Portuguese Liga (1st level) plus 2 promoted to this season's Liga. There were 6 groups of 3 teams each, and every team played 2 games (once home and once away). Winners of the groups joined the top-6 teams from the last season's Portuguese Liga and there were 3 groups of 4 teams, each team playing 3 games. Winners of the groups and the best second-placed team competed in the one-legged semifinals, with the winners advancing to the final.
Participating clubs
This is a list of clubs participating in the 2008–09 Portuguese League Cup:
First round
The matches were played on August 2 (first legs) and August 9 and 10, 2008 (second legs).
Second round
The matches were played from August 16 to November 5, 2008.
Third round
The matches were played from December 14, 2008 to January 18, 2009.
Semifinals
The Semifinals were held as one-legged matches with the two teams that had the highest amount of points in the Third Round being given the home ground advantage. The draw was held at the LPFP headquarters on 20 January 2009, 12:30 UTC. The matches were played on 4 February 2009.