Primeira Liga giants Sporting Lisbon and Benfica are set to clash in yet another exciting encounter over the weekend.

The two sides meet on Saturday at the Estadio Jose Alvalade for the fourth round of the Portugal Cup this season. According to Brazilian striker Derlei, who played for the two rivals in Portugal, anything can happen in this weekend’s game. 

Sporting have an upper hand coming into this fixture, having beaten their bitter rivals twice this season. The first time they beat Benfica was during the Portuguese Super Cup. The match ended 1-0 in favour of Sporting. The other meeting was during their Primeira Liga fixture where the home team walloped the visitors 3-0 at the Stadium of Light.

The two sides are vying for a spot in the first knockout stage of the Portugal Cup.

The role of Jorge Jesus 

In this fixture, all eyes will be on Jorge Jesus, the retired Portuguese footballer-cum-manager, who has managed to jump from the Estadio de Luz to the Jose Alvade stadium, despite the fierce rivalry between the two sides. 

But initially, the switch wasn’t as smooth as the 61-year-old would want it to be. The master tactician proved just why he is the father of Portuguese football by steering Lisbon to the top of the Liga NOS table with eight wins and two draws from their last 10 games. However, across the street, his former side Benfica are struggling to cope with the post-Jesus era, and are now placed fourth in the league table.

Jesus rallies his troops in a previous match. He is the current Sporting Lisbon manager. 

Sporting Lisbon manager Jorge Jesus

Under the Portuguese manager, Benfica were enjoying a rollercoaster ride in the world of football. They had won two consecutive league titles under the great tactician for the first time in 31 years. This was during the 2013/14 and 2014/2015 seasons consecutively 

To prove that Jesus’ was the man behind Benfica’s recent success, the Portuguese side had won only five editions of the Portuguese league in their last 25 seasons without the renowned manager. Their rivals FC Porto had claimed the larger share of the league title, having won it 17 times as the sleeping giants watched helplessly. 

But when Jesus arrived in Benfica ready to perform his miracles on the pitch, he steered the club to seven major trophies in six seasons. He also won over 220 matches for the Eagles. It was during this time that their bitter rivals would cast a lustful eye over their neighbours, who were swimming in the rivers of success by winning every major trophy in Portugal. 

Jorge Jesus in action as Benfica manager 

Jorge Jesus as Benfica manager

Interestingly, during his successful stint at Benfica, he managed to beat Sporting 10 times, losing once and drawing four times. Such amazing statistics, backed by his success in other matches, would eventually force the Sporting management to bow their heads in shame and admiration for the untouchable tactician, and eventually lure him with a move to the Estadio Jose Alvalade. 

To prove his Midas touch in Portuguese football, Jesus led his new side, Sporting Lisbon, to a famous win against his immediate former club, Benfica, barely months after arriving in Alvalade.

Now, many Benfica fans are worried about the return of their former manager as the head coach of a team that not only boils their blood in anger for snatching a man who was behind their tremendous success in the recent past, but also sits at the top of the Primeira Liga, the same position the Lions had set camp for two consecutive seasons. 

Benfica fans will, however, find solace in the fact that they are the overall top winners of the Taca de Portugal, having bagged it 25 times, most recently in 2014, and appeared as runners-up 10 times. Their weekend opponents have only managed to win it 16 times and appeared as runners-up 11 times. But on the other hand, as the defending champions, Sporting CP would not want to lose a trophy that they have kept 16 times, especially against their rivals. 

Sporting Lisbon's squad that won Taca de Portugal final in 2015 

Taca de Portugal 2015 finals- Benfica

On which online or TV channel can I watch Sporting Lisbon vs Benfica live?

  • USA: on various channels (check our TV guide for listings)
  • Canada: on Premium Sports Canada and Sport TV Americas
  • Portugal: on Sport TV1

In the USA, watch Sporting vs Benfica live on Sport TV Americas, Premium Sports Broadband, Fubo TV or GOLTV USA at 15:00 EST. In Canada, follow the action live from the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Premium Sports Canada or Sport TV Americas at 15:00 EST on November 21, 2015. In Portugal, tune in to Sport TV1 to watch Sporting Lisbon vs Benfica live at 20:00 WET. From any other country in the world, visit our live broadcast page for different broadcast options. 

NOTE: Live broadcast data is subject to change

Probable lineups

Benfica: Júlio César; Sílvio, Jardel, Luisão, Eliseu; Gonçalo Guedes, Andreas Samaris, Nico Gaitán; Kostas Mitroglou, Jonas 

Sporting: Rui Patrício; Jefferson, Naldo, Paulo Oliveira, Tobias Figueiredo; William Carvalho, Adrien Silva, Bryan Ruiz, João Mário; Islam Slimani, Teófilo Gutiérrez

 

 

Match details, result and original broadcast info

Sporting CP 2 - 1 Benfica

November 21, 2015 3:00pmEstádio José Alvalade (Lisboa)

This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.

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