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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kick-off: 1800, 15/01/2023
Stadium: Estadio da Luz
Benfica are blazing a trail at the top of the Liga Portugal Bwin table this term and can see off Sporting in a blockbuster Lisbon derby.
The visitors are 12 points back in fourth due mainly to struggling on the road, losing four of eight away games and winning just three.
This match may only involve a short journey, but we’re still taking 5/6 for the Lions to suffer more travel sickness in our first Benfica vs Sporting Lisbon prediction.
Benfica were in brilliant form during the first part of this season, putting together a 24-match unbeaten run in all competitions, which featured 20 wins.
As well as storming clear in the Primeira Liga, the Eagles pipped PSG to top spot in their Champions League group, with Juventus a distant third.
Roger Schmidt’s side suffered a severe World Cup hangover when resuming with a 3-0 defeat at Braga, though.
It then took an early Joao Mario penalty to help them secure a 1-0 home win over mid-table Portimonense.
However, those matches should have blown away any cobwebs and Schmidt received what appeared to be a huge boost in Tuesday’s 2-0 Portuguese Cup win at Varzim.
Enzo Fernandez returned to action for the first time since helping Argentina to Qatar 2022 glory and fired in the second goal.
The 21-year-old had been linked with a £100million-plus move to Chelsea but seemed to suggest he was staying put for now when celebrating that strike.
Benfica also had Nicolas Otamendi playing for La Albiceleste in the World Cup final, so can be forgiven for taking time to readjust.
Goncalo Ramos, who hit a stunning hat-trick for Portugal versus Switzerland and has bagged 14 club goals, is another who should now be ready to shine again.
The Eagles tend to finish the first half of home matches strongly, being 7-1 ahead in the final third of opening periods here, whereas Sporting are 3-2 down in the same section away.
Looking at the Benfica vs Sporting Lisbon odds, we like 14/5 for the hosts to outscore their opponents between 30:01 minutes and the interval.
Sporting returned to action with a smooth 3-0 success versus Pacos Ferreira at Estadio Jose Alvalade, which made it six wins in seven Liga Portugal Bwin home games.
However, the Lions then struggled on the road once more when going down 1-0 at Maritimo, despite having 66 per cent of the possession.
Ruben Amorim’s side were crushed 3-0 at Porto back in August and have also lost away to Boavista and Arouca.
There was a cup defeat at Varzim too, while the Champions League brought more disappointment.
Sporting started brightly by beating Eintracht Frankfurt and Tottenham in Group D but only picked up one more point to slip to third.
The Lions have plenty of promising youngsters, but just lack quality and experience in key areas after selling Matheus Nunes, Nuno Mendes and Joao Palhinha last summer.
That is always likely to hurt them in big away matches and we’re adding 17/4 for a home win by exactly two goals to our Benfica vs Sporting Lisbon betting tips.
Additional stats
Last result:
BENFICA 1-0 Portimonense – Joao Mario (pen)
Maritimo 1-0 SPORTING
Head-to-head: Sporting 0-2 Benfica, Benfica 1-2 Sporting, Benfica 1-3 Sporting, Benfica 4-3 Sporting
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Primeira Liga betting Football betting
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