Taça da Liga
The Taça da Liga, known outside Portugal as Portuguese League Cup, is an annual football club competition organised by the Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional for teams competing in the Primeira Liga and LigaPro, the top two tiers of Portuguese football. Unlike the French and English league cups, the winners do not qualify for European competitions.
The Taça da Liga was established in the 2007–08 season, thus becoming the third official competition for professional clubs in Portugal, after a proposal by Sporting and Boavista was approved by LPFP members on 28 November 2006. For sponsorship reasons, it is currently known as Allianz Cup.
Benfica are the most decorated team, having won a record seven trophies. The current holders are Braga, who defeated Porto in the 2020 final to secure their second title in the competition.
Format
The Taça da Liga format has suffered changes throughout the competition's history in order to increase the number of matches and also revenue for both clubs and LPFP. Since the 2015–16 season, the approved format is the following:- First round – One-legged ties between all Segunda Liga teams, with the winner advancing to the next round. In case of an odd number of participating teams, one team receives a bye to the next round.
- Second round – One-legged ties between the first-round winners, the twelve Primeira Liga teams ranked 5th–16th in the previous season, and the two teams promoted from the Segunda Liga. The winner advances to the next round.
- Third round – Four groups of four teams played in a single round-robin format, each containing three second-round winners and one of the four top-placed Primeira Liga season teams of the previous season. The group winners advance to the next round.
- Knockout phase – Semi-finals and final played as one-legged fixtures played in a neutral ground.
Finals
Performance by club
Participating clubs
| Team | City | Years | First season | Last season | Titles | Runners-up | |
| 1 | Benfica | Lisbon | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 7 | 0 |
| 2 | Sporting CP | Lisbon | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Braga | Braga | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 2 | 1 |
| 4 | Vitória de Setúbal | Setúbal | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | Moreirense | Moreira de Cónegos | 10 | 2011 | 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Porto | Porto | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | Marítimo | Funchal | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | Paços de Ferreira | Paços de Ferreira | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Rio Ave | Vila do Conde | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Gil Vicente | Barcelos | 12 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Académica | Coimbra | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Desportivo das Aves | Vila das Aves | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Estoril | Estoril | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Feirense | Santa Maria da Feira | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Leixões | Matosinhos | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Nacional | Funchal | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Portimonense | Portimão | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Santa Clara | Ponta Delgada | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Vitória de Guimarães | Guimarães | 13 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Penafiel | Penafiel | 12 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Sporting da Covilhã | Covilhã | 12 | 2009 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Belenenses | Lisbon | 11 | 2008 | 2018 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Oliveirense | Oliveira de Azeméis | 11 | 2009 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Olhanense | Olhão | 10 | 2008 | 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Arouca | Arouca | 9 | 2011 | 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Varzim | Póvoa de Varzim | 9 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Beira-Mar | Aveiro | 8 | 2008 | 2015 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Trofense | Trofa | 8 | 2008 | 2015 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Freamunde | Freamunde | 8 | 2008 | 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Chaves | Chaves | 8 | 2010 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Tondela | Tondela | 8 | 2013 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | União da Madeira | Funchal | 7 | 2012 | 2018 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Boavista | Porto | 7 | 2008 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Académico de Viseu | Viseu | 7 | 2014 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Naval | Figueira da Foz | 6 | 2008 | 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | União de Leiria | Leiria | 5 | 2008 | 2012 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Atlético CP | Lisbon | 5 | 2012 | 2016 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Farense | Faro | 5 | 2014 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Famalicão | Vila Nova de Famalicão | 5 | 2016 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Cova da Piedade | Cova da Piedade | 4 | 2017 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | Fátima | Fátima | 3 | 2008 | 2011 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | Vizela | Vizela | 3 | 2008 | 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | Mafra | Mafra | 3 | 2016 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | Estrela da Amadora | Amadora | 2 | 2008 | 2009 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | Gondomar | Gondomar | 2 | 2008 | 2009 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | Oriental | Lisbon | 2 | 2015 | 2016 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | Belenenses SAD | Lisbon | 2 | 2019 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | Carregado | Carregado | 1 | 2010 | 2010 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | Fafe | Fafe | 1 | 2017 | 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | Real | Queluz | 1 | 2018 | 2018 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | Casa Pia | Lisbon | 1 | 2020 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | Vilafranquense | Vila Franca de Xira | 1 | 2020 | 2020 | 0 | 0 |
Players statistics
Appearances
| Rank | Nat. | Player | Apps | Goals | Years | Clubs |
| 1 |  | Jardel | 38 | 1 | 2009– | Estoril, Olhanense, Benfica |
| 2 |  | Tarantini | 37 | 4 | 2007– | Portimonense, Rio Ave |
| 3 | | Ricardo Pessoa | 35 | 7 | 2007–2018 | Portimonense, Moreirense |
| 4 | | João Pedro | 34 | 4 | 2007–2015 | Beira-Mar, Leiria, Oliveirense, Naval, Braga Belenenses, Moreirense |
| 4 | | Filipe Gonçalves | 34 | 3 | 2007– | Vitória Setúbal, Paços Ferreira, Trofense, Moreirense, Estoril, Nacional da Madeira, Oliveirense |
| 6 | | Edgar Sá | 33 | 2 | 2008–2016 | Covilhã, Santa Clara |
| 7 | | Hélder Guedes | 32 | 7 | 2007–2018 | Penafiel, Paços Ferreira, Rio Ave |
| 8 | | Pires | 31 | 5 | 2008– | Portimonense, Clube Desportivo das Aves, Feirense, Moreirense, Penafiel |
| 9 | | Edgar Costa | 30 | 5 | 2009– | Nacional da Madeira, Moreirense, Marítimo |
| 9 | | Lourenço Almeida | 30 | 2 | 2007–2014 | Penafiel, Beira-Mar, Vitória de Setúbal, Desportivo das Aves, Santa Clara, Académico de Viseu |
Bold = Still active and playing in Portugal
Goalscorers
All-time top scorers
| Rank | Nat. | Player | Goals | Games | Years | Clubs |
| 1 | | Tozé Marreco | 12 | 25 | 2010– | Desportivo das Aves, União da Madeira, Naval, Tondela, Académica |
| 2 | | Liédson | 11 | 13 | 2007–2013 | Sporting, Porto |
| 3 | | Jonas | 10 | 15 | 2014– | Benfica |
| 4 | | Lima | 9 | 16 | 2009–2015 | Belenenses, Braga, Benfica |
| 4 | | Rabiola | 9 | 16 | 2007–2015 | Porto, Desportivo das Aves, Penafiel |
| 4 | | Dyego Sousa | 9 | 21 | 2010– | Leixões, Tondela, Portimonense Marítimo, Braga |
| 4 | | Edinho | 9 | 22 | 2007– | Marítimo, Académica, Braga, Vitória de Setúbal, Feirense |
| 4 | | Miguel Rosa | 9 | 24 | 2008– | Estoril, Carregado, Belenenses, Cova da Piedade |
| 4 | | Clemente | 9 | 27 | 2007–2019 | Chaves, Oliveirense, Santa Clara |
Bold = Still active and playing in Portugal
Goalscorers by seasons
Sponsorship
Since its inception the Taça da Liga has had the following naming sponsors meaning it has been known by different names:| Period | Sponsor | Name |
| 2007–2010 | Carlsberg | Carlsberg Cup |
| 2010–2011 | Bwin | Bwin Cup |
| 2011–2015 | No main sponsor | Taça da Liga |
| 2015–2018 | CTT | Taça CTT |
| 2018– | Allianz | Allianz Cup |
Records
- Most tournament wins : 7 wins, Benfica
- Most final appearances : 7, Benfica
- Most tournament wins : 7, Luisão for Benfica
- Most final appearances: : 6, Luisão for Benfica
- Most matches : 45, Benfica
- Most matches : 34, João Pedro & Ricardo Pessoa
- Most game wins : 37, Benfica
- Highest goalscorer : 12 goals, Tozé Marreco
- Highest goalscorer : 5 goals, by Matheus for Vitória Setúbal, Hugo Vieira for Gil Vicente and Jonas for Benfica
- Most goals scored in a match : 4 goals, by Rabiola for C.D. Aves vs C.D. Trofense, 29 July 2012
- Biggest win: Moreirense 1–6 Benfica, third round, 26 January 2016
- Biggest win in a final: Marítimo 2–6 Benfica, 20 May 2016
- Highest scoring game: 8 goals, Belenenses 5–3 Leixões S.C., first round, 7 August 2011 and Marítimo 2–6 Benfica, final, 20 May 2016
- Most penalties in a deciding penalty shootout: 20 – Vitória de Guimarães 6–7 Sporting
- Youngest goalscorer in the final: Bruno Pereirinha, 20 years and 19 days, for Sporting vs Benfica, 2009
- Youngest captain in the final: João Moutinho, 21 years, 6 months and 14 days for Sporting vs Vitória Setúbal, 2008