Primeira Liga: Benfica and Porto Neck And Neck Going Into O Classico

Primeira Liga: Benfica and Porto Neck And Neck Going Into O Classico
08:05, 13 Apr 2018

The Portuguese Primeira Liga, through its own predictability, has relatively immunised itself to criticism. The oligopoly that exists invites cynicism, yet also creates expectation and for those less-inclined to scrutinise, an actually entertaining top of the table circus, year-in, year-out. As the 2017-18 season makes its way towards its conclusion, with five games remaining of the domestic season, and a most important O Classico imminent, ‘The Big Three’ of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Futebol Clube do Porto, and Sporting Clube de Portugal are embattled in the pursuit of domestic glory.

With just six points separating them. Benfica currently stand on 74 points to Porto’s 73, whilst Sporting CP are a further five points behind. Between the top two, Benfica also possess the most marginally better goal difference, conceding the same but scoring just three more, whereas Sporting sit considerably behind in this department. Separated by a hair’s breadth, any dropped points are detrimental. It was only last week, Porto- table-toppers since Gameweek 4 in August- were displaced, with fierce rivals Benfica happily taking advantage of the Dragões’ duo losses. Coach Rui Vitoria’s side are now smugly positioned in the top spot they have been all-too familiar with over the past half-decade.

 

Benfica

Benfica are undefeated since September, in what is so far their only loss of the season. Led by the rampaging evergreen 34 year-old Jonas, his eight goals in the past five games a primary reason for their current position, although their are concerns about his unavailability for this weekend's fixture. The Brazilian has an excellent return of 33 goals in 28 games this season and is the highest scoring player this season in continental football.

Although Benfica are doing very well since Jorge Jesus controversially left to take the reins at Sporting in 2015, manager Rui Vitoria may be in his last season. It has been reported that former Hull City and Watford manager Marco Silva is being approached to take over at the Estadio de Luz in the summer, having managed both Estoril and Sporting CP in the past. Vitoria however, will want to go out on a hat-trick of titles. An extremely narrow win over Vitória Setúbal on Saturday keeps his side a nose ahead of Porto. 

Benfica having to play in O Clássico and the away fixture of the Derby de Lisboa on 6th May marks them as having the toughest fixture list out of the three. Winning both of these, hopefully exhilarating, encounters will undoubtedly lead Águias to collect their fifth successive title. Benfica haven’t beaten Porto since 2014, but if after 90 minutes they have pocketed the three points, the title can be assumed to be virtually sewn up.

Benfica Remaining Fixtures

Benfica v Porto                                            

Estoril v Benfica                                           

Benfica v Tondela                                       

Sporting CP v Benfica

Benfica v Moreirense

Porto

Two losses in their past five games - both away- have seen Porto leapfrogged by Benfica. Porto’s shock 2-0 defeat on their travels to Belenenses, a game where they peppered the home goal to no avail, saw them slip from the top of the table for the first time in eight months. They regained some footing at home to Desportivo Aves this weekend, before they head to the Estádio da Luz a week later for the must-win O Clássico. The front two of Moussa Marega and Vincent Aboubakar have a return of 35 goals between them. If Aboubakar recaptures the form he had before his recent muscular injury, and is ably provided by the assist don Alex Telles, their maybe sufficient reason for manager Sérgio Conceição to have some optimism they will be able to capture their first title since 2013. A victory at the Estádio da Luz is imperative.

However, they also have their away semi-final fixture of the Taca de Portugal against Sporting CP to contend with, in a congested timetable of three games in the space of eight days. The vital meeting against Benfica only takes place three days before. Benfica themselves can be seen to have inadvertently eased their title run, after exiting the cup in the Last 16 of the competition, to Rio Ave.

Porto Remaining Fixtures

Benfica v Porto

Porto v Vitória Setúbal

Marítimo v Porto

Porto v Feirense

Vitória Guimarães v Porto

 

Sporting CP

Sporting CP haven’t won a title in 16 years and this season have the extra task of warding off Sporting Braga. Braga have firmly set their sights on breaking the top three domination, and provided their credentials with a late 1-0 victory over Sporting last week. However, Abel Ferreira’s men followed that up with the indignity of a 2-2 draw against regulation-based Feirense to give Sporting a bit more breathing space. 

Netherlands International Bas Dost has managed 24 goals in 25 games in the Primeira Liga this season and will be required more than ever to exhibit the influence he has for Sporting since his move from Wolfsburg two seasons ago. Suspended for Thursday's Europa League fixture against Atletico, Dost was one of a number of players to feel the wrath of Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho. The banishment inflicted by Carvalho on an extraordinary nineteen players followed the after match of defeat in Spain was quickly overturned. Sporting's final position in the season should depend on how well, and efficiently, and diplomatically, this situation and underlying animosity between squad and club bureaucracy is resolved.

Belenenses, surprise victors against Porto two weeks ago, are their next opponents.

Whilst a possibility of Sporting finishing fourth will still guarantee a punt at the Europa League next season, it will certainly mark the end of Jorge Jesus’s disappointing tenure. Before Jesus leaves he will have welcome his old Benfica side in the penultimate game of the season, on the 6th May. Whether this is begrudgingly as champions, a chance to deny them his former team a 37th Primeira Liga title, or as a vital game in their own title race depends on the next several fixtures. Jesus won’t need to be informed that O Classico has resulted in stalemates in the last three meetings, and he’ll be keeping as close an eye on the result as the two other managers, hoping this trend is repeated. Managing a win over Belenenses- a team they just managed to beat 1-0 in December- with their two rivals claiming a point each, will take them to within five of reaching the summit. However, with a far inferior goal difference, they either need to go on a goal-scoring rampage to move above 

Sporting CP Remaining Fixtures

Belenenses v Sporting CP

Sporting CP v Boavista

Portimonense v Sporting CP

Sporting CP v Benfica

Maritimo v Sporting CP

The Primeira Liga is obviously defined by a very clear hierarchy. As is widely stated, only two other teams outside of Sporting CP, Porto, and Benfica have ever won the Primeira Liga; Boavista in 2000-2001 and Belenenses way back in 1945-46. The last time the final table reading didn’t feature one of The Big Three in the top positions was in 2012-2013, when Pacos de Ferreira managed to infiltrate at Sporting’s expense. The combined losses of the top three equates to the total defeats of fourth place Braga.

It is ultimately this Sunday, 15th April, the date to mark in the calendar, as Benfica welcome Porto in what is one of two remaining title-defining fixtures of the season. Sporting CP currently, and rightly, stand as furthest outsiders and either have the most to gain, or most to lose, depending on how they perform over the next five games and rectify their recently questionable standards. Speculating that a draw between their rivals is quite prescient, capitalising on this with their own game, and a stellar home performance in May to make their first league win against Benfica in almost three years, might actually lead them to within touching distance, as the Primeira Liga has the strong potential to go right down to the final game of the season.

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