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Benfica v Gil Vicente Portuguese League Cup final: Jorge Jesus with little to gain and much to lose
This weekend sees the Portuguese Taça da Liga final played between Benfica and Gil Vicente. The Lisbon giants start as overwhelming favourites, but that will not overawe Gil one bit.
Paulo Alves’ side have acquitted themselves admirably to life back in the top flight this season, gaining wins over FC Porto, Sporting and Braga. And although their two league games against Benfica yielded a draw and a defeat, the modest team from the northern town of Barcelos pushed the Eagles all the way on both occasions. Gil’s refusal to adopt an overly defensive attitude when facing the bigger teams have won the club many friends. Alves is not just playing lip service when he says, “we’ll be doing everything to win, so I expect a good game and a festival of football.”
Furthermore, in pacey and skilful Portuguese centre-forward Hugo Vieira, Gil have a player who is surely destined for bigger things and who can cause any defence trouble.
Gil Vicente vs FC Porto Report
FC Porto's long unbeaten run stretching back almost two years came to an end in Barcelos on Sunday night as Gil Vicente beat the champions 3-1.
A pallid Porto were unrecognisable for most of the match, while that takes nothing away from an excellent all-round display from the hosts. Claudio's early header flicked over Porto goalkeeper Helton to give the Gil the lead set the alarm bells ringing for the Dragons, and on the stroke of half time a penalty given away by Otamendi gave Claudio the chance to score his second goal.
The centre-back did not waste the opportunity and Paulo Alves' side went into the interval with a comfortable lead.
Gil Vicente vs FC Porto Preview
FC Porto coach Vítor Pereira has asked for “more of the same” as he leads his team into a tricky looking match at Gil Vicente on Sunday night.
The Dragons were back to their best in possibly their most impressive domestic performance of the season last week at home against Vitória Guimarães. The drastically improved form of talismanic midfielder João Moutinho especially, along with the influential duo of Álvaro Pereira and James Rodríguez, will have been particularly pleasing to the Porto coach.
“Essentially I want to see a consistent and rigorous Porto, playing a hard-working and high-quality game, so that we keep up the level of performance of our most recent matches,” said Pereira. “I expect to see a mature Porto in Barcelos.”
Sporting CP Lisbon vs Gil Vicente Report
Sporting produced a scintillating display at the Alvalade to put Gil Vicente to the sword, running out 6-1 winners.
If doubts remained as to the title credentials of Domingos Paciência's side, the dazzling display by Sporting last night will have surely dissipated them. The hosts took and early lead when captain Daniel Carriço headed in after being set up by centre-back partner Polga.
Although on top, Sporting did not create much in the way of chances for the rest of the first half. That all changed after the interval, as an inexorable attacking performance left the visitors reeling.
Sporting CP Lisbon vs Gil Vicente Preview
Sporting will aim for consecutive win number nine at the Alvalade Stadium tonight against Gil Vicente.
After a stuttering start to the new season, Sporting’s heavy summer investment is paying rich dividends. The Lisbon club are currently on an 8-game winning run in all competitions. With first-team regulars Oguchi Onyewu (returning from injury), Insua (returning from suspension) and Elias (forced to miss midweek Europa League match due to ineligibility) all likely to be recalled into the starting line-up, it would be a brave man to bet against another victory for the Lions.
Three points would put Sporting in a three-way tie in 3rd place in the table, alongside Braga and Marítimo. On that trio, Sporting are undoubtedly best prepared to challenge top two Benfica and FC Porto – just three points further ahead in the standings – for the Liga ZON Sagres championship title.