BENFICA VS SPORTING

The Derby de Lisboa (English: Lisbon derby), also known as Derby Eterno, Derby da Segunda Circular, or Derby da Capital, is the most notable football derby match in Portugal.

Benfica vs Sporting

Wednesday day full of derbies.

Very good battle expecting us at The Estádio da Luz. Both team are in champions race and I can`t wait to watching this match. Derbies in Portugal can be very great, like a real war some time with a lots of beautiful football moves, the Portuguese really know this game.

Benfica are good side, honestly this season is bad for them, especially it was shame in Champions league but last season they were great and it`s normal that form is falling down sometimes.

Jorge Jesus returns at Estadio da Luz but like ``enemy``, I believe that he is the best coach in Portugal and that he can win the title with Sporting this season. Great squad with great coach.

Rui Vitoria and Jorge Jesus

The Benfica coach, Rui Vitória, launched, at Press Conference, the derby of Matchweek 16 of Liga NOS 

“It is a derby, a centennial match with two quality teams and it will be difficult for both sides. I hope we may win the match, but both teams will have difficulties. A desirable match in national terms and may the Benfiquistas leave Estádio da Luz pleased”, he said, revealing that the captain will not be an option: “Luisão not yet, but Grimaldo is on the squad list.”

For the coach, the derby is not decisive for Benfica`s journey towards the fifth league title in a row, because there are still a lot of games left.

“I don't see it like that. It's no use doing a good round; if we don't do well in the following ones, it's no use. There are championships decided in the big matches and others against other teams. We have to be ready for the 18 matchweeks to come, knowing that the opponent has quality, is ahead of us, but we want to win”, he stressed.

Benfica is in third place on the league table, only three points behind the leader, but Rui Vitória refuses that there is more pressure in this derby than in previous ones.

Rui Vitoria

“We have played a lot of matches like this one, all with this media coverage, intense, contested and with the adrenaline on the limit. The match will be at our home, with our supporters. The two team will respect each other”, he said.

The derby always moves the supporters. Rui Vitória praised the Red Wave, the positive effect it has on the Benfica players and the opposite effect on the opponents. 

“I don't think about the consequences of the matches before they take place. I live factual situations. To have only a competition is a reality. There is not a causal relationship between playing more or fewer matches and winning titles. What it seems to me is there was an intention of dividing the Benfiquistas. When the Red Wave starts is difficult to stop. Benfica and its supporters are something that is not easy for any opponent, not even for our rivals. Sporting is a quality team just like FC Porto, but will we face and we have the capability to win”, he highlighted.

Asked to choose a player from the rival that he would like to see sidelined, the coach was emphatic: “The matches are played by all participants. It opens the year, the will be a lot of Benfica fans and some Sporting fans. More than any individual player, there is a strong team.”

Squads:

Benfica- Goalkeepers: Svilar and Bruno Varela; Defenders: Lisandro, Grimaldo, Eliseu, Jardel, André Almeida and Rúben Dias; Midfielders: Fejsa, Samaris, Zivkovic, Salvio, Krovinovic, Pizzi, Cervi, Rafa and João Carvalho; Forwards: Raúl, Jonas and Seferovic.

Sporting-Goalkeepers:Rui Patricio and Salin; Defenders: Coates, Coentrao, Anre Pinto, Mathieu, Piccini, Ristovski;  Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, William, Bryan, Acuna, Battaglia, Bruno Cesar, Gelson Martins, Joao Palhinha; Forwards: Doumbia, Bas Dost, Podence.

 Injuries:

Benfica: The hosts' defensive issues aren't likely to get better, with Luisao missing out in defence and goalkeeper Mile Svilar also absent.

Sporting: Sporting's only injury concern in young left-back Jonathan Silva.