Still with the echoes of 7-3 for Liga Placard to resonate on both sides, Sporting It is Benfica prepare a new clash at Pavilhão João Rocha, this time for the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup. Next Monday’s meeting is the main course of the last round before the final phase concentrated in Sines.
A duel between lion and eagle in Queen Test It is not at all unprecedented. In fact, the upcoming clash is the 18th between the two teams in this competition alone. However, there is one relevant fact: the eternal rivals will face each other before the concentrated final phase and this is something much less common.
In the 17 previous derbies, only six were played before the final phase. If we adopted the current model, that is, a final phase with eight teams, then only three of games would meet this criterion. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the final concentrated phases were not always used: the first final eight was played in 2015/16 and in the previous season, 2014/15, a final four.
Leo started better, but recent history favors Eagle
Let’s go to the data. Six eternal derbies held before the final phase of the competition… and three victories for each side. The Pavilhão João Rocha will therefore be the stage for a game that is unusual at this stage of the competition in recent years, but which will also serve as a tiebreaker for this specific confrontation.
The first of these clashes fell to the Leo side, on May 1, 2002. In the quarter-finals, the two teams drew (5-5) at Nave de Alvalade, but penalties were awarded to Sporting, led by Beto Aranha. In the following season, 2003/04, an even earlier meeting – third round – and a new Sporting victory, now by more expressive numbers (4-1). As There are no two without threein 2007/08 they beat Sporting again: on their visit to their rival, in the second round, the lion triumphed by 0-2.
From then on, three more games capable of meeting the criteria we defined and a strong reaction from the Reds, who won all of them. In 2008/09, Benfica returned the favor and went to Paz e Amizade to eliminate their rival, in the second round, by 4-6. Two quarter-final clashes followed, in the 2009/10 and 2011/12 seasons, both at Benfica and with home victories by 4-1 It is 3-1respectively.
The clashes between Sporting and Benfica before the final stages of the Portuguese Cup:
2001/02: Sporting 5-5 (3-1 gp) Benfica
2003/04: Sporting 4-1 Benfica
2007/08: Benfica 0-2 Sporting
2008/09: Sporting 4-6 Benfica
2009/10: Benfica 4-1 Sporting
2011/12: Benfica 3-1 Sporting
Recent history has favored Benfica when both meet before the finals, but we must not forget: each game has its own story. Monday is the day for the lion and eagle to write another one.
