SL Benfica vs. Sporting CP 7/25/20 Primeira Liga Soccer Pick, Odds, and Prediction

SL Benfica is hosting Sporting CP at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in a derby match of round 34 in Portuguese Primeira Liga.

Benfica hasn’t lost any of their last 4 games in the Primeira Liga, but they have gambled their chance of winning the title a long time ago. Benfica is in second place in the standings with 74 points, 8 points behind Porto at the top, and 14 points ahead of Sporting in third place. With 69 scored goals and 25 conceded goals so far this season, Benfica is the second-best team in the Primeira Liga, but I would say they are the most talented team in Portugal, and with a few more additions to the team, Benfica might be a better competition to Porto next season. In their latest Primeira Liga match against Aves on the road, Benfica has had massive 64% of ball possession, 11 shots on goal, 6 corner kicks, 88% of the correct passes, and 8 big chances created. Benfica was a much better team in this match, and they deservedly won this game 0-4. Pizzi is Benfica’s leading goal scorer with 18 goals and 10 assists, while Vinicius added 17 goals. Grimaldo and Taarabat are both injured, and they will not be in the lineup for this game. Benfica has lost only 2 games since the restart, but they also have 3 draws, and with all those points dropped along the way, Benfica has lost the top spot. Benfica’s only chance to win a trophy this season is in Taca de Portugal where they will face Porto in the finals next week.

Alongside Porto and Benfica, Sporting is the best team in Portugal, but they are still pretty far from the top. With 6 points, Sporting is in 3rd place, and they are in danger of losing this spot that would lead them straight to the group stage of the Europa League unless Sporting wins at least 1 point in this derby against Benfica. Sporting isn’t overly offensive this season with only 48 scored goals, the least of all the top 4 teams in the Primeira Liga, but their defense has been solid with 32 conceded goals. The problem for Sporting is that they don’t have enough offensive firepower, and with Fernandes gone to Manchester United, Sporting has lost his best player. Even though he left the team a while ago, Fernandes is still the leading goal scorer in Sporting with 8 goals and 7 assists. Cabral and Luiz both added 6 goals. Phellype and Vietto are both still injured, and they will not be in the lineup for this match. In their latest Primeira Liga match against Vitoria de Setubal, Sporting was dominant with massive 79% of ball possession, 3 shots on goal, 6 corner kicks, and 88% of the correct passes. As I’ve mentioned earlier, Sporting is missing offensive firepower, and that is the only reason why this match ended in a 0-0 draw. Braga is 3 points behind Sporting, but they are in a worse form, and they are playing against Porto in the last game of the Primeira Liga, which means that even if Sporting doesn’t win here, they might be lucky enough to get straight to the Europa League group stage.

When playing at home, Benfica has not lost to Sporting in their last 4 games, but they haven’t been exactly consistent on the defensive end. Sporting might not be a good offensive team, but their defense is certainly good enough to stop Benfica. I will take a shot at a draw here.