Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs. Benfica - prediction, team news, lineups

Sporting Lisbon and Benfica bring their docket for 2024 to an extremity with a thrilling top-of-the-table clash erstwhile they fastener horns successful circular 16 of the Primeira Liga connected Sunday.

Having failed to triumph immoderate of the 3 meetings betwixt the sides crossed each competitions this year, As Aguias volition caput into the latest variation of the heated Lisbon derby looking to get 1 implicit their rivals.

Match preview

© Imago

Sporting Lisbon picked up different disappointing effect past Sunday erstwhile they played retired a goalless gully with Gil Vicente aft a wasteful show successful beforehand of extremity astatine the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos.

Despite seeing implicit 60% of the shot possession and having a fig of wide chopped chances, the visitors failed to bushed an inspired Andrew betwixt the sticks for Gil Vicente arsenic they settled for a stock of the spoils.

Prior to that, Sporting Lisbon spared their blushes successful the 5th circular of the Taca de Portugal connected December 18, erstwhile they needed a 115th-minute onslaught from Viktor Gyokeres to scrape a 2-1 extra-time triumph implicit Santa Clara astatine the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

With past weekend's stalemate, the Leoes person failed to triumph 5 of their astir caller 7 matches crossed each competitions — losing 4 and claiming 1 gully — a tally which has seen Joao Pereira relieved of his relation astatine the helm of affairs.

Sporting Lisbon person picked up 37 points from their 15 Primeira Liga matches to beryllium 2nd successful the league standings, level connected points with third-placed Porto and 1 down Sunday's visitors astatine the apical of the pile.

© Imago

On the different hand, Benfica made airy enactment of Estoril Praia arsenic they cruised to a 3-0 triumph implicit the Canarinhos erstwhile the 2 sides squared disconnected astatine the Estadio da Luz connected Monday.

Vangelis Pavlidis opened the scoring successful the 28th infinitesimal to enactment As Aguias successful beforehand earlier Swiss planetary Zeki Amdouni netted doubly disconnected the seat to headdress disconnected a ascendant squad display.

Benfica person present gone 9 consecutive games without decision crossed each competitions, picking up 7 wins and 2 draws since November's 1-0 nonaccomplishment against Bayern Munich successful the Champions League, wherever they presently beryllium 15th successful the array with 10 points from six matches.

This good tally of results has besides seen Bruno Lage's men publication their spot successful the 5th circular of the Taca de Portugal courtesy of an emphatic 7-0 triumph implicit Estrela Amadora astatine the Estadio da Luz connected November 23.

While Benfica volition beryllium looking to unfastened up a four-point pb astatine the apical of the array this weekend, they person failed to triumph their 3 meetings with Sporting successful each competitions this year, losing doubly and claiming 1 gully truthful far.

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:

Sporting Lisbon signifier (all competitions):

Benfica Primeira Liga form:

Benfica signifier (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago

Following the departure of Pereira, Sporting Lisbon has snapped up Rui Borges from Vitoria de Guimaraes and the 43-year-old volition beryllium looking to deed the crushed moving astatine the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

On the wounded front, the Leoes stay without respective players down the spine of the squad arsenic Daniel Braganca (muscle), Hidemasa Morita (thigh) and Pedro Goncalves (muscle) proceed their spells connected the sidelines.

Goncalo Inacio has missed each of the past 4 matches since coming disconnected injured successful the crippled against Moreirense connected December 5 and the 23-year-old defender is ruled retired for the location side.

Nuno Santos besides continued his agelong roadworthy to afloat fittingness aft suffering a genu wounded backmost successful October and the 29-year-old striker is besides retired of contention for this weekend's matchup.

Benfica, meanwhile, stay without 23-year-old guardant Tiago Gouveia, who has been ruled retired since coming disconnected with a enarthrosis wounded successful August's crippled against Estrela Amadora.

He is joined connected the club's wounded array by chap Portuguese attacker Renato Sanchez, who has missed each of the past 8 matches since picking up a musculus occupation successful November.

Sporting Lisbon imaginable starting lineup:
Israel; Debast, Diomande, Quaresma; Quenda, Simoes, Hjulmand, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres, Harder

Benfica imaginable starting lineup:
Trubin; Araujo, Bah, Silva, Carreras; Aursnes, Kokcu; Di Maria, Akturkoglu, Beste; Pavlidis

We say: Sporting Lisbon 1-2 Benfica

Games betwixt Sporting Lisbon and Benfica person often served up fireworks and we expect different action-packed contention astatine the Estadio Jose Alvalade with plentifulness of goalmouth action. As Aguias caput into the play arsenic the much in-form side, and we foretell they volition heap much misery connected the out-of-sorts hosts.

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