Sporting has a historical advantage with Benfica in the Portuguese Cup but at the Reds’ home the ‘music’ is different – Portuguese Cup

Benfica has a disadvantage compared to Sporting in the overall balance of games counting for the Portuguese Cup in football, but ‘rules’ in home matches, with more than 50% of victories.

In 12 meetings, between Campo Grande, Estádio Nacional, the old Estádio da Luz and the current one, the ‘reds’ have seven wins, two draws and three defeats, with 27 goals scored and 18 conceded.

Of the seven victories, four were by the minimum margin, a scenario that, if repeated on Tuesday, in the second leg of the semi-finals of the 2023/24 edition, would take the decision to extra time, as the ‘lions’ won at home by 2-1.

More than a month ago, more precisely on February 29, Rúben Amorim’s eleven led 2-0, with goals from Pedro Gonçalves, in the ninth minute, and the ‘inevitable’ Swede Viktor Gyökeres, in the 54th. At 68, Aursnes reduced and relaunched Benfica in the tie.

To qualify for the final without needing extra time, Benfica only has three ‘available’ results, the 3-1 in 1958/59, which then also turned into a 2-1 defeat in Alvalade, also in the ‘halves’, the 3-0 in 1982/83 and the 5-0 in 1985/86.

In 1958/59, Mário João, Cavém and Santana ‘materialized’, in the first half, the turnaround, with Diego’s goal in the second being of no use to the ‘lions’.

As for the two games from the 80s, both took place in the quarter-finals, one-legged, the first in 1982/83, the debut season of Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson, in a 3-0 sealed by the ‘stars’ Chalana, Diamantino and Carlos Manuel.

Three years later, Benfica, owned by Englishman John Mortimore, did not have, far from it, the same splendor, but, on the afternoon of March 12, 1986, they ‘devastated’ the ‘lions’ with five goals, scored by Rui Águas, Wando (two), Álvaro and Manniche.

If the ‘reds’ can only repeat three of 12 results, the ‘lions’ have five at their disposal, including the three triumphs, the 3-2 of 1944/45, the 2-0 of 1962/63 and the 3-1 of 1999/2000.

In 1944/45, Peyroteo ‘shone’, with a decisive ‘bis’ to ‘push’ the semi-finals into a play-off game, as the ‘eagles’ had triumphed 2-1 at Lumiar, where the game was also played. decisive, which the ‘lions’ won 1-0.

The 2-0 in 1962/63 was marked by another double, this one from Figueiredo, who reversed Benfica’s 1-0 victory in Alvalade, also in the semi-finals.

In 1999/2000, Sporting prevailed in a unique game, counting for the round of 16, with the Argentine Acosta opening and closing the scoring, the second penalty goal, and the Brazilian André Cruz also scoring, already after the 1-1 by Peruvian Uribe.

For the Portuguese Cup, the two teams last played in Luz on February 6, 2019 and Benfica won 2-1, for the first leg of the semi-finals.

A goal from the Brazilian Gabriel, in the 16th minute, and an own goal from Ilori, in the 64th minute, put the ‘reds’ two goals ahead, but Bruno Fernandes, with a direct free kick, in the 82nd minute, returned Sporting to the discussion of the tie.

In the second leg, in Alvalade, the current Manchester United player scored again and Sporting won 1-0, progressing to the final using the away goals rule, now abolished.

Benfica’s 13th home game against Sporting for the Portuguese Cup in football is scheduled for this Tuesday, at 8:45 pm, and counts towards the second leg of the semi-finals. In the first, in Alvalade, the ‘lions’ won 2-1.