Benfica vs. Sporting Lisbon Portuguese Primeira Liga Week 11 Preview
Jorge Jesus’ first placed Benfica take on their bitterest rivals, Sporting Lisbon, at Estadio da Luz on the 27th of November in the Primeira Liga. With one point separating the two sides, a feisty derby in Lisbon is expected to unfold.
Benfica:
After earning a hard-worked draw at Old Trafford, the Eagles will return to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984 with confidence. One of the few teams to remain unbeaten in Liga Sagres, Benfica have become title favourites due to their form and their current standing in the table is
a testament to that.
Their last game in the league saw them held to a 1-1 draw at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/SC-Braga-c40460, but Jorge Jesus will be targeting nothing other than three points when they welcome Sporting to the Stadium of Light.
Sporting Lisbon:
Domingos Paciência’s men were able to beat SC Braga 2-0 in their Portuguese Cup tie recently and generally have been in quite good form on the domestic front, as they have lost only once in the league.
Although they were defeated in their UEFA Europa League encounter against Vaslui, they have made up for that result with two consecutive victories. Now playing to one of their biggest foes, they will be looking to get a positive result, not only to attain
bragging rights but also to gain momentum in the title race.
Benfica News:
The biggest news in the Benfica camp is that influential captain, Luisao, has been included in the squad to face the Sportinguistas. The Brazilian International injured himself during the UEFA Champions League tie in Manchester and was reportedly going to
be sidelined for nearly two weeks.
However in a recent change of events, the 30-year-old has been included http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jorge-c19120 Jesus’ plans but will still have to prove that he is match ready by undergoing a late fitness test. Other than that the only injury casualty is Enzo Perez, who is going to be out
for this one with a knee problem.
The Reds are going to field a similar line-up that played at Old Trafford, with Miguel Vitor expected to take place of the skipper. Up front the most notable exclusion from the starting line-up is expected to be http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Oscar-c28720 Cardozo, who has lost his berth due
to the excellent form of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rodrigo-c31437.
Sporting Lisbon News:
Like his Portuguese counterpart, Domingos Paciência, is also facing the possibility of omitting one of his star players from the starting eleven. Emiliano Insua, who has been superb since his arrival in the summer, is reportedly facing a battle to be fit
for the much awaited derby.
The left-back is struggling with a knock but it is expected that he will recover in time to take his place in the backline. However the same cannot be said for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alberto-Rodríguez-c4344, who has been sidelined for this one despite being in contention late on.
With http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Joao-Pereira-c18664 and Insua should return as the full-backs.
The potent Sporting attack is set to feature Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who on his current form, looks like a nightmare for all defenders.
Key Players:
Benfica: Miguel Vitor
The former Leicester City man is likely to be drafted instead of Luisao and will have the arduous task of containing http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vitor-c36281 to perform.
Sporting Lisbon: Ricky van Wolfswinkel
The talented attacker has netted nearly 11 times in only 13 outings for his new employers and is going to be essential to a Sporting victory. Simply if Van Wolfswinkel has a good game, the Leões are likely to come on top against Benfica.
Prediction:
Benfica 2:1 Sporting
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