Benfica and Sporting will compete in Luz, next Tuesday, in the first of two derbies in the space of a few days: the first for decide who will be present in the Jamor final, and the second, in Alvalade, in a direct confrontation that was decisive for the championship.
After the national teams stopped, Sporting and Benfica had relative difficulties in games that were perhaps easier. Sporting passed in Amadora, after having been at a disadvantage, in a game in which he was superior, but in which the star-studded competitiveness and organization meant that the decision was delayed until the last few minutes.
Sporting’s fifth turnaround in the championship – a clear indicator of confidence in adversity. Benfica overtook Chaves in a game in which much was said about the waste of penalties, but in which perhaps the most prominent note is the difficulty presented by the national champion in overcoming the Flavian resistance, which only gave in at 68′.
It could be said that Benfica, in a way, is behind in both games, as any chance other than the Reds’ victory will mean Rúben Amorim’s team qualifying for the Jamor final, as well as maintaining the lead of the championship. In the latter, emphasis is also placed on the game delayed in Famalicão, what could widen the Leo leadership gap.
The championship game is the most important for both teams. Both teams aspire to win trophies and the Cup has historic weight, but winning the Cup may just be a palliative for failure in the championship.
However, neither of the two coaches will be able to justify a poor performance on Tuesday with Saturday’s preparation, especially since it is likely that a game has direct effects on what follows it. The team that comes out on top in Tuesday’s tie will inevitably be on top from a mental point of view, and this could have an effect on how the teams arrive at Saturday’s game.
That’s where there will be more to play for the success of the season for both teams. Probably, If Benfica loses they will be out of the title: they will be four points behind Sporting (which could be seven if Sporting wins the delayed game), with 24 up for grabs. The confidence and quality of Leon’s performances, hypothetically reinforced by a victory in that derby, do not seem to be in line with such a significant loss of points.
Sporting, in fact, seems to maintain a very strong dynamic, with great ability to create imbalances in the opposing structure collectively, almost regardless of the players playing. Benfica, on the other hand, looks good more dependent on individualities to be able to dismantle games in which the opposing organization creates difficulties.
Perhaps this problem is, in part, caused by Benfica’s difficulties in stabilizing an eleven throughout this period. This makes it extremely difficult to predict Roger Schmidt’s options for each game.
In this matter, the spearhead subject is paradigmatic: Who will play against Sporting? Artur Cabral played the last game, but left without a goal less than ten minutes after missing a penalty. Is this a sentence? Marcos Leonardo also seemed to be a regular option, with three consecutive games, until he failed to score at Ibrox Stadium, against Rangers, and in Rio Maior, against Casa Pia. Schmidt checkmated him and, looking at the pattern, he could do the same to Artur Cabral.
The mobile attack, with Rafa at the front, seems unlikely in a team that, playing at home, will have to counter the negative result of the first leg. Also due to these circumstances, perhaps Neres could have a place in the eleven, joining Rafa and Di María. Even though this is an eleven that is not well prepared to defend, a midfield with Florentino and Neves can prepare Benfica to lose the ball and consequent Leonine transitions, while giving it a greater capacity to create imbalances in the last third.
Sporting should have some questions answered that also concern the management of players’ conditions. The best Sporting has Nuno Santos and Pote, yes, but Will both players be able to play both games? If so, it seems possible that Matheus Reis will move to the left wing, for the inevitable entry of Gonçalo Inácio, who rested in the first half at Reboleira. The game changed with his entry: not only did he give the Leo team more solutions with the ball, but the unrest that Leo Jabá created for Matheus Reis in the first half ended.
Paulinho could perhaps start in Tuesday’s game, allowing Pote to fully recover for Saturday’s game. Paulinho’s problems seem, in part, resolved with the arrival of a goalscorer for the Leonine attack, who fixes opponents and frees up space for a player who, being capable between the lines and serving teammates, has never been a conventional striker.
It will certainly be very interesting to see what this double confrontation will bring, absolutely crucial for the final balance of the season of both teams.
