Benfica and Sporting compete this Tuesday, at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, the first of two clashes in five days, in a derby in which the first finalist of the Portuguese Cup in football is decided.
Given the 2-1 home win, more than a month ago, on February 29, sealed with goals from Pedro Gonçalves (nine minutes) and Gyökeres (54), against one from Aursnes (68), the ‘lions’ leave in advantage for the second leg, as a draw is enough for them.
The ‘Leonine’ team is looking for its 30th appearance in the final and its 18th title, in a competition it last won in 2018/19, a season in which it beat FC Porto 5-4 in the final on penalties, after 2-2 in the 120 minutes.
The ‘reds’, for their part, are looking for their 39th final, being the record holders for trophies, with 26, the last one won seven years ago, in 2016/17, with a 2-1 victory against Vitória de Guimarães, in the title game.
Due to the advantage acquired in the first leg, plus the leadership of the championship and the consistency of display, Sporting starts with slight favoritism, but it was on the short trip to Luz that they suffered one of the few defeats of the season.
On November 12, 2023, the ‘inevitable’ Gyökeres gave the ‘lions’ an advantage almost at the break, in the 45th minute, but, in the 51st minute, Gonçalo Inácio was sent off, due to the accumulation of yellow cards, and left the ‘lions’ reduced to 10 units.
Alvalade’s team still had an advantage at the 90th minute, but Benfica achieved an epic turnaround in added time, with goals from João Neves, at 90+4 minutes, and the Danish Casper Tengstedt, at 90+7, in a move that the VAR took a while to validate.
This triumph then gave the ‘reds’ the lead in the championship, but, in the meantime, Sporting has already recovered it and has also beaten Benfica, in the first leg of the ‘semi-finals’ of the Cup.
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For the victory in Alvalade, the ‘lions’ only need to draw in Luz, so, in the history of the 12 trips to the ‘eagles’ stronghold for the Portuguese Cup, they have five results that serve them now, the three victories and the two equalities.
Benfica will advance to the final if they repeat one of their three victories by two or more goals, the last in 1985/86 (5-0), and the four tangential victories of the ‘reds’ will lead the discussion of the tie to extra time.
The ‘red’ formation is practically at full strength, while Sporting will be without Spanish goalkeeper Adán and has Pedro Gonçalves – who missed the last two games, after being injured in Italy for the Europa League – in doubt.
The attacking midfielder of the ‘lions’ could be reserved for Saturday’s clash, the reception to Benfica, which could be decisive in the fight for the title, on the 28th round, at a time when Rúben Amorim’s team has one more point and less a game than that of Roger Schmidt.
The meeting between Benfica and Sporting, in the second leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-finals, will take place on Tuesday, at 8:45 pm, at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon.
One day after the derby, Vitória de Guimarães, who won the 2012/13 edition (2-1 against Benfica) and has seven appearances in finals, host FC Porto, who won their 19th trophy in 2022/23, in 33 finals, in the first leg of the semi-finals.
The meeting is scheduled for 8:15 pm on Wednesday, with the second leg scheduled for Dragão, on April 17th.
