Benfica vs Sporting Odds & Prediction – Portugal Primeira Liga Round 13

• Benfica and Sporting meet at Estádio da Luz on Friday, December, 3rd
• The Derby de Lisboa is set to have a major impact on the Primeira Liga title race
• Read below for the latest Benfica vs Sporting odds, team news and a pick

Just one point separates Benfica and Sporting ahead of Friday’s Derby de Lisboa at Estádio da Luz. Benfica will leapfrog their Lisbon rivals with a victory. Sporting will go top of the table if they record a better result than Porto in Round 13.

Both teams bring strong domestic form into this match. Benfica have won 13 of 15, while Sporting is on a seven-match winning streak in Primeira Liga. The home side should be relatively well-rested for this match after a farcical clash with Belenenses SAD last weekend, and they have a good recent record against Sporting, winning the last three meetings at Estádio da Luz.

Benfica vs Sporting Odds

Odds as of Dec 03 at DraftKings

Team News

Diogo Gonçalves and Nemanja Radonjic remain on the sidelines for Benfica. Jorge Jesus’ options are limited at wing-back as a result, leaving either Lazaro or Gilberto to start on the right flank. Everton tends to play in the left forward role against teams who are going to pose an attacking threat.

Haris Seferovic got on the scoresheet in the controversial win over Belenenses last weekend, but he’s unlikely to start this one. Darwin Núñez and Roman Yaremchuk are competing to lead the line, with Darwin in pole position to get the nod after his two assists and a goal in the 6-1 drubbing of Braga early last month and a hat-trick against Belenenses.

With Sebastián Coates as captain and leader, Sporting have qualified for the Champions League knockout stages for only the second time in the club's history.

Big Seba is a living legend for the Leões. 🟢⚪️ pic.twitter.com/c99x9c2KXc

— Follow @UruguayanHeroes (@UruguayHeroes) November 24, 2021

Sporting is missing João Palhinha after he picked up an injury in the win over Tondela. Key central defender Sebastian Coates is also out for this one due to a positive COVID-19 test. Ruben Vinagre and Jovane Cabral remain in the physio’s room. Sporting has the squad depth to replace Coates and Palhinha, but they will be hit hard by their respective absences.

High Stakes

Benfica’s widely debated 7-0 win over Belenenses stands for now despite the club from Algés asking the league for the fixture to be replayed. That result leaves just one point between the top three teams in Primeira Liga, and there’s barely a margin for error. Benfica have won 10 of their 12 matches, drawing one and losing the other but they remarkably are left in third place ahead of the Round 13 fixtures.

https://twitter.com/SportingCP_en/status/1466725005866246149

The form of Porto and Sporting has been just marginally more impressive with the pair going unbeaten to start the season. Such high standards are being set by all three clubs that a defeat in this fixture would be a huge blow to either side’s title chances even at such an early stage in the season.

This fixture is one of the biggest on the Portuguese calendar regardless of their positions in the league. What is already an intense rivalry has been added to by Sporting’s comments after the Belenenses fixture.

The Green and Whites released a statement stating, “Portuguese football as a whole is seriously harmed today. What is happening has serious implications for the credibility of this championship and the institutions that regulate it.”

Portuguese side Belenenses have nine players in their XI, including two keepers, for their game vs. Benfica after the club had a COVID-19 outbreak.

Benfica currently lead 7-0 at HT 😳 pic.twitter.com/lvpaqob3OI

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 27, 2021

There were 10 yellow cards when these teams last met. Another fiery Derby de Lisboa is expected on Friday night. Sporting is riled up, Benfica is desperate to overtake their rivals, and the passionate Estádio da Luz crowd should make for a raucous atmosphere.

Benfica vs Sporting Primeira Liga Statistics

Benfica vs Sporting Best Bet

Prior to the Belenenses fixture, Benfica had kept just two clean sheets in 10 matches. Sporting may have recorded four shutouts in a row in the league, but they are unlikely to keep Benfica quiet on Friday.

Missing key players is going to make Sporting less defensively secure. Their attack should still be effective, however, and the intensity of this fixture could lead to a high-paced match with lots of transition opportunities.

Benfica have been scoring freely this term and should be able to take advantage of a weakened Sporting XI. The visitors will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet too, though, given As Águias defensive vulnerabilities of late.

Pick: Both teams to score and over 2.5 total goals (+115)