Benfica vs. Sporting Lisbon: Key Battles – Portuguese Primeira Liga Special
With Portugal’s biggest derby edging ever closer to kick-off, Bettor.com analyzes the key battles which will determine the outcome of the much awaited encounter.
Miguel Vitor vs. Ricky van Wolfswinkel
Sporting Lisbon’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Utrecht-c39237 in the summer and has since then been consistently finding the back of the net.
Having already scored 11 times in the league, he is on superb form and containing him is going to be a quite a hectic task.
Although Luisao was going to be given the role of silencing the 22-year-old, the Brazilian injured himself during the UEFA Champions League game against Manchester United and is facing a late fitness test to make the team on match day.
Miguel Vitor is expected to deputise for the Selecao International and is going to face the biggest hurdle in his Benfica career against Van Wolfswinkel.
The Lions boast a fearsome midfield containing the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-Capel-c11100, Stijn Schaars and Matias Fernandez, and they are going to make sure that the Dutch striker gets ample opportunity to get on the score sheet.
If the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vitor-c36281 will have to make sure that does not happen but that’s easier
said than done.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Stijn-Schaars-c34229
A dominant midfield usually leads to a side winning the game. That is also expected to be the case this time around when Sporting take on Benfica. Both teams boast talented players in their ranks, but when it comes to bossing the centre of the park, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jorge-c19120
Jesus turns to Pablo Aimar and Domingos Paciência opts for Stijn Schaars.
Now a veteran of the Estadio da Luz outfit, Aimar still retains some of his silky skills and his attacking prowess also seems to have been unaffected by time, as proved by his display against the Red Devils.
Capable of threading the ball through to a teammate even against the sternest of defences, the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Argentina-c2841 International will act as his side’s playmaker and the burden of creating attacks will be on his shoulders.
However that will not be his only task, as alongside his usual duties he will have to make sure that the opposition are not given much freedom during the match. Stijn Schaars has been carrying the creativity for the Sportinguistas and has forged a supreme
understanding with Ricky van Wolfswinkel.
While the 27-year-old has not been famed for his goal-scoring like his International compatriot, his contributions on the pitch cannot be seen on the scoreline. Utilizing his talents to become the fulcrum of the Sporting team, he will face an in-form Pablo
Aimar and only time will tell which one of them will come out on top.
Rodrigo vs. Rui Patricio
Spanish International, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Oscar-c28720 Cardozo for a place in the starting line-up.
Netting five in his last five outings, he will be looking to add to his tally against Sporting and Seleccao shot-stopper, Rui Patricio, will have to be at his best in order to prevent him from getting on the score sheet.
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