Benfica receives Sporting this Sunday, in a Lisbon derby that is the great match of the 16th round of the Portuguese Football League, seeking to remain in the lead after the victory of Sporting de Braga.
After Minho’s triumph in the reception against Boavista (1-0), Artur Jorge’s men are second, with 37 points, three behind the leader, putting pressure on the ‘eagles’, who enter the field before FC Porto, third with 33, receive Famalicão (20:30).
After qualifying for the Portuguese Cup in Varzim (2-0), the ‘incarnated’ are in top form against their rivals, with the world champion from Argentina Enzo Fernández reinstated and galvanized by the goal scored in Póvoa.
Even without the reinforcements Schjelderup and Tengstedt, Roger Schmidt will want to beat the ‘lions’ and deepen the crisis outside Alvalade of the outsiders, who in 2021/22 beat Luz 3-1.
For the team led by Rúben Amorim, only victory allows them to maintain tenuous expectations of reaching the title, with the lead already at 12 points, although the ‘greens and whites’ must do so, especially after the defeat in Madeira against Marítimo (1 -0), they focus attention on the rest of the access places to the Champions League next season.
FC Porto also hopes to reduce the deficit to the lead, after a goalless draw in the visit to the ‘surprise’ Casa Pia, the previous day, in a match against 13th-ranked Famalicão, which has two consecutive victories, the last in a derby Minho with Vizela (2-1).
The first game of the day faces Desportivo de Chaves, 12th and without winning two consecutive games, against Arouca, seventh with 22 and one of the teams in the best shape in the championship, with three victories in the last five games, and could be promoted. provisionally to sixth place.
Matchday 16 ends on Monday with the visit of Casa Pia, fifth, to Estoril Praia, 14th, with the outsiders ‘watching’ the derby, one point behind Sporting, and with another Minho derby, between Vitória de Guimarães (sixth) and Gil Vicente (16th).
Program for the 16th:
– Friday, January 13:
Portimonense – Santa Clara, 0-0.
– Saturday, Jan 14:
Vizela – Marítimo, 3-0.
Rio Ave – Paços de Ferreira, 0-1.
Sporting de Braga – Boavista, 1-0.
– Sunday, January 15:
Chaves – Arouca sports stadium, 3:30 p.m.
Benfica – Sporting, 6:00 p.m.
FC Porto – Famalicão, 8:30 p.m.
– Monday, January 16:
Estoril Praia – Casa Pía, 7 pm.
Gil Vicente – Victory of Guimarães, 21:15.
Source: TSF
