The Derby de Lisboa reaches fever pitch this weekend as Benfica and Sporting Lisbon lock horns in a penultimate Primeira Liga clash that could well determine the destination of the title.

Both sides found ways to edge past tricky opponents in their most recent outings to stay neck-and-neck on 78 points, though it is the hosts who trail by virtue of head-to-head count entering into this high-stakes encounter.

Having shadowed each other on all domestic fronts this season, Benfica will aim to strike another blow in this gripping rivalry after their penalty triumph over Sporting in the League Cup final back in January, with the two sides also set to battle again under the floodlights of Estadio Nacional do Jamor on May 25 for the Taca de Portugal trophy.

That has kept alive the prospect of a clean sweep of all three major Portuguese silverwares for the Eagles, who know only a win here would be enough to seize the driving seat in the title race before a tricky test at Braga on the final day of the Primeira Liga.

Not the most convincing of performances, but Benfica did enough to get over the line at Estoril Praia, carving out a 2-1 victory thanks to a commanding first-half display in which Fredrik Aursnes and Nicolas Otamendi found the net before Vinicius Zanocelo halved the deficit in the 78th minute to set up a tense finish.

Bruno Lage's men have now emerged victorious in 12 of their last 13 league matches and will back themselves to ride that momentum into Saturday's derby, although recent meetings with Sporting in the Primeira Liga have not been kind, with defeats in the last two.

Even so, Benfica can take comfort from having edged the most recent meeting between the sides at Estadio da Luz and will look to lean on that, alongside their formidable record at the ground this season.

No team in the division has been more dominant on home soil, with the Eagles boasting 14 wins, one draw and just one defeat at their ground, and they will hope that fortress holds firm on Saturday.

Sporting have more than held their own on their travels this campaign, sitting top of the away standings with 37 points claimed from a possible 48, which makes this fixture appear as evenly poised as any derby could be.

On course to make it back-to-back league titles after lifting the crown with 90 points in 2023-24, the Lions have had to weather several bumps in the road, especially during the aftermath of Ruben Amorim's departure, and will fall short of last season's haul.

However, following a turbulent managerial period, Sporting appear to have rediscovered their balance under Rui Borges's leadership — the man whose reign began with a 1-0 triumph over Benfica — and he now has a chance to guide the champions to their first league double in this fixture since the 2005-06 season.

The Green and Whites head into this contest on the back of a 2-1 win over Gil Vicente, which extended their perfect streak to four matches and stretched their unbeaten run in the top flight to 19 games.

A draw would be enough to preserve top spot ahead of Sporting's final day meeting with Vitoria Guimaraes at Estadio Jose Alvalade, but victory here would seal the title with a game to spare.

Team News

Renato Sanches of Benfica on January 15, 2025

© Imago

Angel Di Maria is back to full fitness and could feature in Benfica's lineup, with the Argentine typically stepping up in big moments like Saturday's derby, meaning Zeki Amdouni may drop to the bench.

Alvaro Carreras returns after serving a match ban against Estoril, and his availability is a significant boost, with the Spaniard expected to start at left-back.

Head coach Lage has occasionally used a three-man backline, and it would not be surprising if he opts for the same strategy here to counter the threat of Viktor Gyokeres.

Meanwhile, Alexander Bah, Manu Silva and Renato Sanches remain sidelined as they continue their recovery from injury.

As for Sporting, Geny Catamo has found the net in his last two appearances against Benfica, but he faces competition from Geovany Quenda for a place at right-wing-back after the latter made a notable impact off the bench in their previous outing.

Despite scoring last time, Maxi Araujo may start on the bench, as Borges could favour the more defensively solid Matheus Reis at left-wing-back.

On the injury front, Nuno Santos, Joao Simoes and Daniel Braganca are all ruled out for Saturday's crucial encounter.

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Trubin; Carreras, Silva, Otamendi, Araujo; Florentino, Kokcu; Akturkoglu, Aursnes; Di Maria; Pavlidis

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Silva; Inacio, Debast, Quaresma; Reis, Hjulmand, Morita, Catamo; Pote, Gyokeres, Trincao

SM words green background

We say: Benfica 2-1 Sporting Lisbon

A Benfica victory by more than one goal will see the Eagles crowned champions, based on the head-to-head rule, while a Sporting win by any margin would hand the title to the Lions.

Expect a game brimming with emotion and caution, with the hosts under greater pressure to deliver, though playing at home could tip the balance in their favour.

change that lisbon draws 1-1

本周末的里斯本德比达到了白热化的程度，本菲卡和里斯本竞技在西甲倒数第二场比赛中发生了冲突，这场比赛很可能决定冠军的归属。

在最近的几场比赛中，两支球队都找到了战胜难缠对手的方法，以78分的积分与对手不相上下，尽管在这场高风险的比赛中，东道主凭借正面交锋的优势落后于对手。

本菲卡本赛季在国内赛场上势均力敌，本菲卡将在1月份的联赛杯决赛中点球战胜葡萄牙竞技后，在这场激烈的竞争中再次出击。5月25日，两队将在国家体育场的聚光灯下再次争夺葡萄牙杯。

这让老鹰队保持了横扫葡萄牙三大奖杯的希望，他们知道只有在这里获胜才足以在冠军争夺战中占据主导地位，然后在联赛最后一天在布拉加进行棘手的考验。

本菲卡的表现并不令人信服，但在对阵埃斯托利尔·普拉亚的比赛中，本菲卡取得了足够的胜利，凭借上半场的出色表现，弗雷德里克·奥斯内斯和尼古拉斯·奥塔门迪破门破门，本菲卡以2-1的比分取得了胜利。第78分钟，萨诺塞洛将比分缩小了一半，创造了紧张的结局。

布鲁诺·拉赫的球队在最近的13场联赛中取得了12场胜利，并将在周六的德比中继续保持这种势头，尽管最近在西甲联赛中遇到的竞技并不友好，最近两场比赛都失败了。

即便如此，本菲卡还是可以从最近两队在卢兹球场的交锋中获得些许安慰，并将依靠这一点，再加上他们本赛季在球场上的出色战绩。

在这个级别的球队中，没有哪支球队在本土的统治力更强了，老鹰队在主场取得了14胜1平1负的战绩，他们希望在周六的比赛中堡垒能站稳脚跟。

在本赛季的客场之旅中，罗马竞技已经站稳了自己的位置，在48分的比赛中以37分的成绩位居榜首，这使得这场比赛看起来像任何一场德比一样势均力敌。

在2023-24赛季以90分的成绩夺得联赛冠军后，狮子队在背靠背夺冠的道路上不得不经历一些坎坷，尤其是在鲁本·阿莫里姆离开之后，他们将无法达到上赛季的成绩。

然而，在经历了一段动荡的执教期后，在鲁伊·博尔赫斯的带领下，竞技队似乎重新找到了平衡。博尔赫斯的执教从1-0战胜本菲卡开始，现在他有机会带领球队在2005-06赛季以来的第一次联赛双冠。

绿白军团在2-1战胜吉尔·维森特之后，将他们的完美连胜延长到四场，并将他们在顶级联赛的不败纪录延长到19场。

在最后一天在阿尔瓦拉德球场与维多利亚吉马良斯的比赛中，一场平局足以保住榜首位置，但在这里的胜利将锁定冠军，再多一场比赛。

团队的新闻

2025年1月15日，本菲卡的雷纳托·桑切斯

©成虫

安吉尔·迪玛利亚已经完全康复，可能会出现在本菲卡的首发阵容中，阿根廷人通常会在像周六德比这样的重要时刻挺身而出，这意味着泽基·安多尼可能会坐在替补席上。

阿尔瓦罗·卡雷拉斯在对埃斯托里尔的比赛禁赛后复出，他的出现对球队来说是一个重大的利好，西班牙人有望在左后卫位置首发。

主教练拉赫偶尔会使用三人后卫线，如果他在这里选择同样的策略来对抗维克托·杰克勒斯的威胁也不足为奇。

与此同时，亚历山大·巴赫、马努·席尔瓦和雷纳托·桑切斯仍在伤愈中。

至于竞技方面，卡塔莫在最近两场对阵本菲卡的比赛中攻入一球，但他面临着来自昆达的竞争，后者在上一场比赛中替补出场，发挥了显著的作用。

尽管在上一场比赛中取得了进球，马克西·阿劳霍可能会在替补席上首发，因为博尔赫斯可能会选择防守更稳固的马修斯·赖斯担任左后卫。

在伤病方面，努诺·桑托斯、若昂·西莫兹和丹尼尔·布拉干卡都将缺席周六的关键比赛。

本菲卡可能的首发阵容：

Trubin;卡雷拉斯、席尔瓦、奥塔门迪、阿劳霍；弗洛伦蒂诺,Kokcu;Akturkoglu Aursnes;迪马利亚;Pavlidis

里斯本竞技可能的首发阵容：

席尔瓦;伊纳西奥、德巴斯特、夸雷斯马；里斯,Hjulm

SM字绿色背景

我们说：本菲卡2-1里斯本竞技

如果本菲卡以一球以上的优势获胜，那么老鹰队就会获得冠军，而如果里斯本竞技以任何一球的优势获胜，那么冠军就会被狮子队夺走。

期待一场充满激情和谨慎的比赛，东道主承受着更大的压力，尽管在主场比赛可能会对他们有利。

改变里斯本1-1战平的情况