Sporting CP vs SL Benfica: Tips, Odds, and Match Preview
Two Portuguese heavyweights Sporting and Benfica, kick off their domestic season with another high-octane encounter in the Portuguese Super Cup.
Things got heated the last time they met, with Sporting snatching victory from the jaws of defeat to round off a historic season for the Lions.
Unstoppable Sporting Lisbon
Sporting CP has emerged from the overcast shadow of its city rival to string two league titles in a row and a cup double last year. Particularly emphatic was the final of the Taça de Portugal just over two months ago.
Benfica, who had most of the play, led after a 47th-minute Kokcu screamer before a 100th-minute penalty by talisman Viktor Gyokeres cancelled it out and forced the extra time. Rui Borges’ side sealed the deal and won 3:1.
However, the last Super Cup doesn’t cut the fondest of memories for the green and white. They’ve won it only once in 10 years, and their last outing was a 4:3 defeat to Porto despite leading 3:0 by the 24th minute.
Sporting CP Injury & Suspension News
Almeria’s Luis Suarez was brought in to replace Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal, but there’s a question mark whether the Colombian arrives in time for the fixture. Elsewhere on the pitch, Nuno Santos and Daniel Braganca are still recovering from injuries.
SL Benfica – a Season to Forget
Benfica opens the competitive season with a score to settle with their city rivals. Not only did they lose the Taca in the dying minutes of the game, but the league also lost to Sporting on the last day of the season. And besides, the Super Cup is the only domestic cup that Benfica doesn’t lead at: the Eagles and the Lions have nine titles each.
Bruno Lage’s men have another factor to contend with. Benfica was a worthy participant in the overhauled UEFA Club World Cup held in the US. They topped the group alongside Bayern Munich and lost to the champions Chelsea in the last 16 round.
As a result, SL Benfica is entering the Thursday tie with only 18 days of preseason and barely two friendlies in the books.
Benfica Injury & Suspension News
Angel di Maria left the club after his contract expired, as did the big-money Real Madrid signing Alvaro Carreras. Amar Dedic, Samuel Dahl, Enzo Barrenechea and Richard Rios are brought in to bolster the squad, which will be without the injured Alexander Bah and Tomas Araujo in defence.
Sporting CP vs SL Benfica Prediction
With Gyokeres gone for Sporting, there’s a question mark about where the goals will be coming from. Benfica wasn’t their high-scoring self against tougher opponents at the World Cup either, so a tight game at the Algarve is to be expected.
That said, I’m backing Benfica to give one back to Sporting. I believe that the Eagles will be more match-ready having recently returned from the USA. Whether that returns to bite them back in April is another question.
CryptoGamba tip: SL Benfica to win the trophy – 1.95 @Playbet.io
Milos Antic
Sports Betting Expert
Milos is a sports betting professional whose special skill involves sitting through countless hours of football fixtures. He entered the sports betting arena in 2017 and hasn't looked back since. He is that guy who gets stopped and asked for a handy betting tip or two. As an in-house betting expert for CryptoGamba, Milos takes much pride when results go the way he called them while always finding a fitting excuse when they don't.
