After the Portuguese Cup derby, there’s another clash of titans in the league. Sporting and Benfica go head-to-head this Saturday evening at 8.30pm as part of matchday 28 of the Portuguese championship. The two best teams in the competition face off, separated by just one point. The match will take place at the Estadio José Alvalade, a stadium with a capacity of around 50,000 spectators.
Sporting-Benfica, analysis of form:
Sporting sit top of the table with 68 points, having won 22, drawn two and lost two. They have scored 77 goals, the best attack in the competition, and conceded 26, the third-best defence. Rúben Amorim’s side have won four of their last five games and drawn one.
At home, Sporting dominate with 39 points from a possible 39, thanks to 13 consecutive wins, scoring an average of 3.54 goals per game and conceding just 0.77. In the last five games at Alvalade, they have recorded five wins.
Benfica, meanwhile, are in second place with 67 points, from 21 wins, four draws and two defeats. They have scored 61 goals, the second-best attack, and conceded 21, the second-best defence. In their most recent games, they have won four and lost one.
Our Sporting-Benfica prediction:
As in the last derby between the two teams at Estádio da Luz, in the second leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-finals we are expecting an electrifying duel, with plenty of competition for possession and chances to score on both sides. As has often been the case in recent meetings between Benfica and Sporting, we’re expecting a goal-filled game, with both sides looking to score. Our prediction for Sporting-Benfica: Both goals and more than 2.5 goals.
