Braga opened the scoring through Carlão, on 37 minutes. Midfielder Rúben Amorim doubled Braga's lead before the break, while Hugo Viana scored in the second half to make it three, thus granting Braga passage into the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, Braga played host to group D winners Benfica. After a goalless 90 minutes where Braga provided more attacking threat than Benfica, the game was decided by a penalty shoot-out. After each side had taken four penalties each, the score was 3–2 to Braga. Benfica's final penalty taker was Nicolás Gaitán, but as his shot was saved by Quim, Braga emerged victorious and headed to the Taça da Liga final for the first time in their history. Just like their opponents, Porto entered the competition in the third round, where they were drawn into group A alongside Primeira Liga opponents Estoril, Nacional and Vitória de Setúbal. Porto's first group stage game was away against Nacional on 19 December. Porto defeated the Madeiran side 2–0 with goals in each half from Lucho González and Nicolás Otamendi. Porto's second group stage match was an away tie at Estoril's Estádio António Coimbra da Mota. Estoril took the lead on 15 minutes through central defender Steven Vitória. Porto equalised on 31 minutes through Jackson Martínez, who headed the ball past an on-rushing Mário Matos. The "Canarinhos" retook the lead on the hour mark, after Vitória converted from the penalty spot to double Estoril's goal tally. On the 80th minute, Porto tied the game through João Moutinho, who fired the ball into the top left corner of the goal from 25 yards. Their third and final group stage match was against Vitória de Setúbal on 9 January. Porto defeated the "Sadinos" 1–0. Moutinho scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot before half-time, after Sebá had been fouled in the penalty box by Vitória's Nélson Pedroso. In the semi-finals, Porto hosted Rio Ave. The first half saw the home side dominate possession but not break through Rio Ave's defense. James Rodríguez broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, on fifty-seven minutes.