A mouthwatering clash will be on the cards when Benfica and Sporting CP clash at Estadio da Luz on Sunday evening.
Matchday 16 of the 2022/23 Liga Portugal season will continue on Sunday, with three matches on the show. Lisbon will bear witness to the most highly-anticipated fixture of the weekend, as Benfica and Sporting CP meet at Estadio da Luz in Derby de Lisboa.
The 2022/23 season has been top-notch thus far for Benfica. The Eagles have dominated Liga Portugal thus far this term, dropping points just twice in 15 games. Such superiority has earned them a six-point lead over their nearest challenger, Braga. Roger Schmidt’s men have also been impressive in Europe, finishing atop a group containing Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
On the other hand, inconsistency has been the name of the game for Sporting CP. The Verde e brancos have dropped points in six of their 15 outings thus far and sit in the fourth spot in the standings. They are also out of Taca de Portugal while finishing third in Group D of the UEFA Champions League.
The corresponding fixture last season ended in a 3-1 win for Sporting CP, with Pizzi scoring a late consolation goal for Benfica. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Benfica
🎙️ Roger Schmidt na antevisão ao #SLBSCP: "Amanhã espero um jogo extraordinário." pic.twitter.com/0M4SAPdvea
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) January 14, 2023
Roger Schmidt does not have many pressing issues hampering his preparations ahead of the visit of Sporting CP. On Sunday, the Benfica manager will be bereft of the services of two first-team players in the worst-case scenario.
Rafa Silva and Alejandro Grimaldo are recovering from knocks. And the duo might not be fit enough to start for Benfica against Sporting CP on Sunday. Otherwise, Schmidt has a full-strength squad at his disposal this weekend.
Odysseas Vlachodimos will take his place between the sticks, with Benfica lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him. Mihailo Ristic will likely feature as the left-back in Grimaldo’s absence. And Alexander Bah should start on the right flank. Meanwhile, Antonio Silva and Nicolas Otamendi should form the central defensive partnership.
Enzo Fernandez has put the noise surrounding his future in the background since talks over a move to Chelsea broke down. And the Argentine midfielder will sit at the base of the Benfica midfield. Florentino Luis and Chiquinho will likely join Fernandez in the middle of the park.
Goncalo Ramos has been in fine form thus far this season and will spearhead the Benfica attack against Sporting CP. Finally, Julian Draxler and Joao Mario should join the 21-year-old in the final third on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Vlachodimos; Bah, Silva, Otamendi, Ristic; Luis, Fernandez, Chiquinho; Mario, Ramos, Draxler
Sporting CP
Unlike his counterpart in the Benfica dugout, Ruben Amorim has several roster issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Estadio da Luz. The Sporting CP manager will be without four first-team players on Sunday.
Daniel Braganca is a long-term absentee due to a ruptured cruciate ligament. In addition, Luis Neto remains on the sidelines due to a knee injury. Meanwhile, Hidemasa Morita is recovering from a muscle complaint and might miss out. And Dario Essugo misses out due to suspension.
Pensamento na 𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐎́𝐑𝐈𝐀 🤝 #SportingCP pic.twitter.com/yzKE2aTxbh
— Sporting Clube de Portugal (@Sporting_CP) January 14, 2023
Antonio Adan should feature between the sticks, with Sporting CP lining up in a 3-4-3 formation in front of him. Captain Sebastian Coates will marshal the backline, with Goncalo Inacio and Matheus Reis completing the backline.
Pedro Porro, who has emerged on the radars of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, will start as the right wing-back. And Arthur Gomes picks himself on the left flank. Manuel Ugarte will shore up things in the middle of the park, with Mateus Fernandes providing him with defensive support.
Mateus Fernandes has stepped up well for Sporting this season and will bring the creative impetus. Paulinho should spearhead the attack against Benfica, with Marcus Edwards and Francisco Trincao being the two wide men.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Adan; Inacio, Coates, Reis; Porro, Ugarte, Fernandes, Gomes; Edwards, Paulinho, Trincao
Key Stats
- Benfica and Sporting CP have locked horns 314 times, with the Eagles boasting a better head-to-head record (W137 D65 L112).
- Benfica have won 14 of their last 16 games in Liga Portugal.
- Benfica have seen over 2.5 goals on average in their last six home games against Sporting CP in all competitions.
- Benfica have been winning at both half-time and full-time in five of their last seven matches in Liga Portugal.
- Sporting CP have scored at least twice in their last three away games against Benfica in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez was the talk of the market in the first few days of the January transfer window. The Argentine international returned from the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph ready to embark on a new adventure. And after coming close to joining Chelsea, he has his head in the right place after a few run-ins.
Roger Schmidt put his foot down and brought the youngster back into the fold. And after scoring against Varzim SC, Fernandez will be ready to make his mark in Liga Portugal as he looks set to remain at Estadio da Luz till the end of the 2022/23 season.
Prediction
Benfica 2-1 Sporting CP
Benfica and Sporting CP have endured vastly different campaigns thus far in the 2022/23 season. But form goes out of the window more often than not in a derby. And with Derby de Lisboa being one of the most hotly-contested rivalries, the two teams should come together for a largely-even affair.
But Roger Schmidt has a more stable unit at his disposal. So even though Sporting CP will take the game to the hosts, Benfica should come out on top. The Hard Tackle predicts the Eagles to eke out a narrow 2-1 win over Ruben Amorim’s charges on Sunday.
