The big gap that exists between FC Porto and Benfica at the top of the Portuguese Liga explains that the Eagles can’t fail in Monday’s Derby de Lisboa. Coach Jorge Jesus is aware of that...
“We cannot fail,” said Benfica’s coach according to Portuguese media website Abola.pt.
“A derby is always a derby and the league’s table standings isn’t very important.
“However, the 12-points advantage that we have over Sporting give us some peace of mind. In my opinion, there’s no way Sporting can finish first or second [in the Portuguese Liga].
“The responsibility and pressure is more on us, Benfica, than on Sporting. The reason is that we have something at stake – the first position in the league.”
As of now, Benfica are 11 points behind FC Porto but they could reduce this wide gap to 8 points at the end of match-day 20 with a win away to Sporting. Should the Derby de Lisboa end in a draw, it would be Benfica’s first in the Portuguese Liga.
Meanwhile, Sporting have already drawn as much as 6 times whereas they’ve only picked 9 victories compared to Benfica’s 15 and Porto’s 18.
“A derby is always a derby and the league’s table standings isn’t very important.
“However, the 12-points advantage that we have over Sporting give us some peace of mind. In my opinion, there’s no way Sporting can finish first or second [in the Portuguese Liga].
“The responsibility and pressure is more on us, Benfica, than on Sporting. The reason is that we have something at stake – the first position in the league.”
As of now, Benfica are 11 points behind FC Porto but they could reduce this wide gap to 8 points at the end of match-day 20 with a win away to Sporting. Should the Derby de Lisboa end in a draw, it would be Benfica’s first in the Portuguese Liga.
Meanwhile, Sporting have already drawn as much as 6 times whereas they’ve only picked 9 victories compared to Benfica’s 15 and Porto’s 18.
