PREVIEW Sporting-Benfica: everything ready for the final

Eagles and lions discuss the title of national champion in Luz. The home factor has been vital for the teams’ victories. Marcel Matz wants «aggressiveness» and João Coelho is confident

Two weeks ago a simple question arose: will there be ‘penta’ or reconquest? After four battles, with two victories for Sporting and many others for Benfica, that question is answered this Saturday. At around 7pm, Luz pavilion no. 2 hosts the fifth and final match of the Liga Una final and the Reds appear in a theoretically advantageous position, because up until now the team that played at home has always won.

Interestingly, this season, the arch-rivals faced each other on eight occasions and the number of victories for each club is also divided there (four). Therefore, equality in the final and direct confrontation in the season will be destroyed.

Without mincing words, Marcel Matz was direct about the importance of the duel. «It’s the game that decides the title», he began by telling the Benfica media, before admitting that the defeat in the fourth match of the final bothered his team. “We were upset with the last game. Our performance fell short of what we wanted and we have to correct some things to be more aggressive and cause more difficulties in receiving them. It’s something we need to do at home», he added.

After a three-year drought, Sporting once again lifted the Portuguese Cup, eliminating Benfica in the semi-finals and Fonte do Bastardo in the final. However, in relation to the national championship, the Leo fast still persists, as the last champion title was won in 2017/18.

For this record to change, the 42-year-old coach has already outlined a plan. «There are some advantages that we can take advantage of depending on the characteristics of our team and our game, the service and the block are some of them», he concluded.

However, if one eye of the coach is focused on providing his training, the other is on the other side of the net. «We have to cancel some fundamental pieces, like Tiago Violas’ game, which is very hard-hitting and difficult to stop. We have already shown throughout the season that it is possible [ganhar] if we are at our best level”, he concluded.