Porto vs Benfica Preview

Topics: Porto, Benfica, Portuguese League, Jorge Jesus, Vítor Pereira, Lima

With just two matches remaining in the Portuguese League, Benfica will put their two point lead on the line against Porto at the Estádio do Dragão on Saturday.

As a fan, what more could you ask for than the possibility of being able to claim the league title against your rival? While it may sound appealing and exciting, it could also end up being a complete disappointment. On Saturday, Benfica and Porto will both be out to give their fans something to smile about, as they will go head to head in what will be the title match.

Playing in their 79th league meeting in the city of Porto, the visitors do not have the greatest record on their rivals home ground, but all of that will not matter, given the circumstances.

From their 78 meetings in the league, Benfica has only managed to defeat Porto at the Estádio do Dragão or Estádio das Antas on 12 occasions. That is approximately 15% of their league meetings. As for the hosts, they have managed an incredible 47 victories, amounting to approximately 60%, with the other 19 matches ending in a draw.

While these numbers certainly will not affect the players or managers, it is hard to ignore the facts. But, of those 78 league matches, not many had the importance that this match has.

Not only can Benfica celebrate the title at the Dragão, but they could also repay Porto for their celebrations in the dark at the Estádio da Luz just two years ago. Seeking revenge would be the perfect ending to a campaign that has seen both sides perform brilliantly along the way.

Looking at it from the other side, Benfica could also find themselves on the end of a humiliating ending to the season. For weeks, Jorge Jesus' side has had a four point lead over Porto, but their recent slip up against Estoril now injected a breath of fresh air into the Porto squad, giving them an opportunity to believe anything is possible.

Only two points separate the two sides, with one final match remaining after Saturday. This match turns into a must win for Porto, while Benfica could get away with a draw, which would keep them at the top of the table, heading into their final match against Moreirense.

With a potential historic finish to the league on the line, Porto's Vítor Pereira believes that his side will be full of confidence, after having been written off a number of times.

"All I can say is that they have written us off so many times, they have buried us all season long, but we now come into this match with the possibility of winning the match and claiming the title," Pereira told reporters on Friday in Olival.

"What matters to me is reality, the current moment, and not what is being said or written in the media. I like reality and that tells me that we are still in contention. The reality of the results tells me that Benfica is still in first and that after the match, those things could change. We will see after the match," the Portuguese manager added.

Since taking over as Porto manager with the departure of Villas-Boas, Pereira has two draws against Benfica, and one victory, which came last year at the Estádio da Luz. Earning his second victory on Saturday would go down as one to remember.

One slight advantage that Porto may have is Benfica's fatigue levels coming into this match. Having booked their place in the Europa League Final against Chelsea, the Lisbon side has been playing every four days, not allowing them much time to rest given all the traveling. Against Estoril, that fatigue was noticeable late in the match, and in a match of such high intensity, heavy legs could start to settle in.

Not allowing the fatigue factor to come into play, Lima is hoping that ha can continue his goal scoring run at the Dragão, in order to help his team claim the title. Since signing for Benfica in January, Lima has not represented the Águias at the Estádio do Dragão yet, but on Saturday, he will finally get his chance.

While with Belenenses and Braga, Lima scored at the Dragão in all three seasons. For Braga, he scored in the 2011/12 and 2010/11 campaign, while for Belenenses he helped his side earn a 1-1 draw. Knowing Benfica only needs a draw in this match, Jorge Jesus may opt to start Cardozo alone, with Lima being an option for the second half.

Both sides will come in with a full squad available, with the exception of Benfica's Carlos Martins and Porto's Izmailov, who are both suspended. Having all their key players available should make this a match to remember. With all of Portugal and millions of fans watching across the globe, we should all be in for an emotional ride.

Anxiety will be high, while the pressure already started mounting after the final whistle against Estoril on Monday night. Up until kick off, everyone involved in this match will have repeatedly thought about all the potential outcomes, but once that initial whistle blows, all of that will have to be forgotten.

Porto comes in as slight favorites given the fact that they are playing in front of their fans. Other than that, Benfica is still first and not needing to win this match gives them a slight edge.

Vítor Pereira's side will need to go for it all, in order to only be dependent of themselves to claim the title. A Benfica victory would result in a celebration of epic proportions across the country, leaving Porto fans even more frustrated with their manager than they already were.

The first half could turn out to be a very tactical approach, given neither team will want to make the first mistake. For Porto, conceding first would really take some confidence out of their players knowing that they would now need two goals.

Expect an intense match with every player looking to leave every ounce of energy on the pitch. There should be at least two goals in this match, while yellow cards normally get handed out fast and furious.

Will Benfica be able to repeat their 0-2 victory from the 1990/91 season, when César Brito led them to the Portuguese League Title at the Estádio das Antas? Or will Vítor Pereira's side rise to the occasion, giving them a one point lead over Benfica heading into the final match?