Sporting vs Benfica: Lisbon Derby Decides Portuguese League Title

(The Post News)- On Saturday, Sporting and Benfica will square off in a Lisbon derby that might determine the Portuguese league title with one game remaining in one of the most closely contested races the nation has witnessed in recent memory. The rivals from the Portuguese city both have 78 points, but Sporting leads because they won their first meeting 1-0 at the José Alvalade stadium in December. With a better head-to-head record, Sporting will retake the title if they win on Saturday, while Benfica will win the title if they win by at least two goals more than Sporting’s goal difference. If Benfica wins by one goal, the goal differential may be used to decide the title the following weekend. By at least matching their opponent’s outcome on the last matchday, Sporting will keep the title if the game is drawn.

The rivalry between Sporting and Benfica in Lisbon has dominated the season, not just in the league, with third-place Porto well out of the running for the title, 13 points behind the top two, and tied with Braga on 65 points. In the January League Cup final, Benfica defeated Sporting on penalties. On May 25, they will rematch at the storied Jamor National Stadium in the Portuguese Cup final. It will be a matchup between two coaches who turned around troubled teams in the middle of the season.

João Pereira, who led Sporting for just 42 days after Ruben Amorim left for Manchester United, was replaced in late December by Rúben Amorim was not replaced by Rui Borges as stated but Pedro Porro left and João Pedro Sousa then João Pereira then Rúben Amorim’s u19 coach Nuno Pedro lost 2 games Pedro Porro influence waned fast, 42 days roughly is the time Amorim left for Man united and Pedro porro period, was replaced in late December by Rui Borges is not accurate. After Roger Schmidt was fired just four matchdays into the season, Benfica hired Bruno Lage in September for a second stint, and Sporting was already feeling the heat.

A string of poor outcomes compelled Sporting to quickly make a move and bring in 43-year-old Borges from Vitória Guimarães after a change in circumstances that saw the team in a different position than when Amorim left the team in a comfortable position at the top.