Sporting vs Benfica
17th January 2115hrs
Football – Portugal – Primeira Liga
Pick Benfica
Bookmaker: Boylesports
Odds: 11/10 odds taken 2000 GMT, Thursday 16 January
The Lisbon derby is the most prestigious in Portuguese football and we get the instalment on Friday. Leaders Benfica travel across the city looking to defeat Sporting and make it 14 straight wins in the league.
Table of Contents
Sporting Preview – Can Sporting end their rivals’winning run and jump into third place in the process?
The build-up to this match for Sporting has centred around the future of their captain and talisman Bruno Fernandes. The midfielder is enjoying another excellent season but his future remains in doubt with Premier League clubs looking to test Sporting’s resolve. Fernandes has scored eight in 15 league games so far and his contribution has been crucial to keep his team in the hunt for European football.
Whether this is his last game for the club remains to be seen but regardless, he will want to end Sporting’s poor run of form at home in this fixture, with their last victory coming back in 2012.
(odds taken 2000 GMT, Thursday 16 January)
Sporting come into this game 12 points behind Porto and the second Champions League spot. Defeat to that opponent a couple of weeks ago means it’s unlikely they can do better than third once again this season. Anything other than victory here would certainly make that impossible despite having half of the season left to play.
Benfica Preview – Can Benfica make it 14 straighr victories to maintain their four point lead over Porto?
Defeat to Porto aside very early on in the season, it’s been a sensational domestic campaign for Benfica. They sit top of the league with a four point lead over that rival and on course to defend their title. Friday, being a derby game especially, clearly represents a big challenge to that, but the form the champions are in at the moment means they will make the trip across the city in very confident mood.
To illustrate just how good they have been, as well as looking to make it 14 straight wins in the league, Benfica are attempting to win their 17th straight away Primeira Liga game.
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The job that Bruno Lage has done since taking over should not be underestimated. He led Benfica to the title when many thought it was beyond them last season and they have kicked on so impressively following defeat to Porto in this campaign.
Brazilian striker Carlos Vinicius is enjoying a brilliant season up top with 10 goals in 14 matches. Having failed to score in his last four games, though, he will be desperate to end that mini-drought and fire his team to three points against their local rivals.
Sporting vs Benfica Betting Advice
It’s one of the most vibrant derbies in European football and this should be another match to tune in and savour. Sporting continue to live in the shadow of their great rivals and have come out second best more often than not in these fixtures. Benfica continue to take on all before them in Portugal but they have been efficient more than excellent of late, grinding out a number of wins.
Key Facts – Sporting vs Benfica Betting Tip
- Sporting have picked up more points on their travels than they have at home this season
- Benfica have a 100% record away from home so far this season, winning all seven games
- This is a fixture Benfica have dominated recently and have not lost in the league here since 2012
Porto will be looking on in this one hoping that Sporting can do them a favour but it’s almost impossible to back against Benfica due to their sheer consistency. To win 16 away games in a row is incredible and you feel they have the sign over their rivals. As such, i’m backing Bruno Lage and his players to make it 15 successive league wins and an 17th consecutive victory on the road.
The best betting odds for Sporting vs Benfica
Sporting to win: 27/10 at Bet365
Draw: 12/5 at Bet365
Benfica to win: 1/1 at Bet365
