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By Open Chronicle Sports
10 August 2026 | Liga Portugal Betclic 2026/27 | Matchday 1
Santa Clara and CD Nacional brought the opening matchday of the 2026/27 Liga Portugal Betclic season to a close with an entertaining 2,2 draw at the Estádio de São Miguel.
Gabriel Paciência scored twice in quick succession to put Santa Clara in control, but Nacional produced an immediate response. Liziero converted a penalty before Miguel Baeza completed the comeback shortly before half-time, ensuring the two island clubs began their league campaigns with a point each.
☑ RESUMO
I Liga (#1) | Santa Clara 2-2 Nacional#LigaPortugalBetclic #VSPORTSLPBETCLIC #EPOCA2627 #JORNADA1 #CDSCCDN #CDSC #CDN
Todos os vídeos 👉 https://t.co/bj4ybisOpE pic.twitter.com/fQvu0tRVCh— VSPORTS (@Vsports_pt) August 10, 2026
Paciência strikes twice
Santa Clara appeared to take command of the contest midway through the first half.
Gabriel Paciência opened the scoring in the 20th minute and struck again only two minutes later, giving the home side a 2,0 advantage and putting Nacional under considerable pressure.
It was an excellent spell for Santa Clara and, with two goals arriving in such quick succession, the hosts seemed to have established firm control of the match.
Nacional, however, refused to allow the game to escape.
Liziero starts the response
The visitors were handed an opportunity to reduce the deficit when they were awarded a penalty in the 37th minute.
Liziero stepped forward and converted from the spot to make it 2,1.
The goal transformed the complexion of the contest. Nacional had gone from being two goals behind to being firmly back in the match, and the Madeiran side continued to push before the interval.
Their reward arrived in the 45th minute.
Miguel Baeza found the equaliser, completing Nacional’s first-half recovery and sending the teams into the break level at 2,2.
Nacional recover from difficult start
The speed of Nacional’s response was one of the defining elements of the match.
Santa Clara had required only two minutes to establish a two-goal advantage, but Nacional managed to erase that deficit before half-time.
The second half failed to produce another goal, leaving both teams with a point from their opening fixture of the new campaign.
For Santa Clara, the result will inevitably carry some frustration after establishing such a strong early advantage.
For Nacional, recovering from 2,0 down away from home represents an encouraging start to the season.
Match Summary
Santa Clara 2,2 CD Nacional
Santa Clara scorers: Gabriel Paciência 20′, 22′
CD Nacional scorers: Liziero 37′ pen., Miguel Baeza 45′
Competition: Liga Portugal Betclic 2026/27
Matchday: 1
Date: 10 August 2026
Venue: Estádio de São Miguel
Status: Full Time
Matchday 1 complete
The draw brought the opening round of the Liga Portugal Betclic season to an end.
Across the nine matches, the opening weekend produced 23 goals and five draws, with several of Portugal’s leading clubs already dropping points.
FC Porto began their title defence with a victory, while Sporting CP surrendered a two-goal advantage against Estrela da Amadora. Benfica were held at home by promoted Académico de Viseu, while SC Braga also opened the campaign with a draw.
Santa Clara and Nacional provided the final chapter of that opening round, sharing four goals and a point each in Ponta Delgada.
The focus now moves to Matchday 2 as the first patterns of the 2026/27 championship begin to emerge.