The derby is always a massive one but this time there is something special in the air about this one. Perhaps because it is the first time since 2005 that the two old rivals are the two teams in Portugal playing best football and showing the best credentials to fight for the title.

It's obvious that the one point difference between both sides and the fact that this is just Round 11 of the league doesn't exactly make of this match a decisive one, but in the psyche of both squads, a win tonight can mean a lot.

Apart from the usual distractions that surround the week(s) before this game, this time fueled by the suspicious timing chosen by our neighbours to inaugurate the so called "comfort zone" for the fans of the away teams that visit them (a funny way of calling a cage), it's been quite a civilized pre-match build up. I believe that happened mostly because the boards of the two biggest clubs in the country are involved in a process of coming together to finally break the old system controlled from up North. In any case, we were born not liking each other and that's just part of the game.

Benfica created a soap opera around the possible absence of their captain and defence boss Luisão and that seems to be the only doubt about who will be available for them tonight. From our side we are missing key people like Rinaudo, Izmailov, Rodriguez and Jeffrén. Still, I do believe we have a very strong team, in many areas stronger than the one of our rivals, so there is no reason not to believe that we can go there and win.

Let's hope for a great match, with a completely clean referee and no violence.

List of players called by Domingos (which is exactly the same as for the last game against Braga for the Cup):

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício and Marcelo Boeck.

Defenders: Daniel Carriço, Anderson Polga, Oguchi Onyewu, Evaldo, Santiago Arías, João Pereira and Emiliano Insúa.

Midfielders: Bruno Pereirinha, Stijn Schaars, Diego Capel, Matías Fernandez, André Santos, André Martins and Elias.

Forwards: Valeri Bojinov, Ricky van Wolfswinkel, André Carrillo and Diego Rubio.

FORÇA SPORTING!!!!!!! :fero:



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Line-up is out with one surprise...

Rui Patrício
João Pereira - Onyewu - Polga - Insúa
Daniel Carriço
Elias - Schaars
Matías Fernández - van Wolfswinkel - Diego Capel

Bench: Marcelo Boeck, Santiago Arias, Evaldo, André Santos, Bojinov, Carrillo and Diego Rubio.

I thought Domingos was going for André Santos as DM but he preferred the taller and tougher Carriço.

VAMOS A ELES!!! :fero:

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Elias has a divided ball with Garay and only touches the ball. The ref gives him a yellow. After 1 minute. Oh no.

 

Ricky almost there with a header very close.

 

Great volley from Gaitan hitting the post on Benfica's first attack after 11'

 

Great chance by Schaars missing by an inch.

 

Benfica is getting every signle divided ball by the ref.

 

Matias pulled a muscle and he will most probably go out now. FFS

 

André 'La Culebra' Carrillo comes in.

 

Very dangerous corner for us with Gooch shooting.

 

Good chance for us, Maxi was called offside when he wasn't, Ref mistake.

 

Van Wolfs wasn't offside on another one before that, but it's always funny to see you coming here only when there is the first mistake favouring us in the whole game

 

1-0 to Benfica by Javi Garcia heading alone from a corner. Onyewu was missing there.

 

:howler:Javi makes it 1-0 and now Aimar gets a rediculos yellow for gaining the ball over Insua, I want to hear Sporting fans complain about the ref now, what a joke...

 

OK first half vs a strong Sporting team, they had good chances and we did as well, best was Gaitan's ball against the post.

Aimar has been great, it's worth watching this guy play.
Elias on the other side is a beast too, but Witsel is stepping up for us.

 

SLB 1-0 SCP at HT

A very balanced first half with Sporting starting very strongly denying the pre-match claims of Jorge Jesus that we would be going there to "defend and play in the counter". In the first half an hour we had more attacks, more shots and overall more control of the midfield, even if the inclusion of Carrico doesn't seem to be the best solution to stop Aimar.

Schaars and van Wolfswinkel had dangerous chances, both from set pieces and from open play and we've managed to sustain Benfica's fast counters without too much trouble. Bad luck for us with Matias being forced to go out at 24' as even if Carrillo would probably come in later in the game, this was a blow for Domingos' game plan.

Benfica had a good chance from a corner by Gaitan and scored a goal that came from the sky on a dead ball situation 3 minutes before the break.

The ref had the luck of not having any hot situation inside any of the boxes but it's been a complete homer in every single divided ball. That yellow card to Elias after one minute will stay in the folklore of the derbies. :rollani:

In the second half Domingos should take Carrico out - he is on a yellow and he is simply not a DM. André Santos is a soft player but at least he knows how to position himself better and is better with ball.

How much we are missing Fito Rinaudo on this one... :moan:

 

Jardel does a rugby tackle on Gooch inside the box after a dangerous corner by Elias. :howler:

 

Was that after Insua pulled an Alan/Fucile moment and got a ridiculous foul call?

 

Incredible save by Rui after Cardozo got a gift by Gooch

 

Great save by Artur after a free header of Elias. Huge chance.

 

Cardozo sees a 2nd yellow and goes off at 62'. He is such an idiot. p

 

Here's your moment, Cardozo thrown out, congrats :thumbsup:

 

How lucky can they be!!! What a chance by Elias!!!

 

Incredible nonchalance by Artur with Ricky stealing the ball and leaving it for Elias who hits the post.

 

Carrico is subbed by André Santos. Finally.

 

At 80' Bojinov IN for Insúa

 

Elias again with a dangerous volley, saved by Artur.