Benfica v Sporting

• With two games remaining, Sporting and Benfica sit level on 78 points, although having won the reverse fixture, a draw would likely be enough to secure the title for Sporting.

• Sporting have topped the league after 30 out of the 32 gameweeks this term.

• Benfica's home games have produced over 2.5 goals 88% of the time, as have 81% of Sporting’s matches on the road.

• Benfica are unbeaten in 13 league games, meanwhile Sporting haven’t lost in 18 in the Portuguese top-flight.

All eyes turn to Portugal this Saturday for a blockbuster edition of the Derby de Lisboa, as the fierce Lisbon rivals prepare to lock horns in an enormous clash. The stakes simply couldn’t be higher, with the Primeira Liga highly likely to be decided by the outcome of the game.

After 32 games, there’s still nothing to separate Benfica and Sporting, in what has firmly been a two-horse race. As of now, both sides sit level on 78 points, with just two games to play and no other club in contention.

Saturday’s visitors have been in control for the vast majority of the season, topping the league following 30 of the 32 gameweeks to date.

The league is awarded to the side with the best head-to-head record, should two or more sides end up locked on points.

Given Sporting ground out a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture, a draw would, in all likelihood, suffice to crown them champions.

⭐ Benfica v Sporting Predictions and Best Bets

The most apparent value on offer has to be in backing over 2.5 goals at 1.65, a generous price given the records of both sides up until now. The two sides lead the league in the proportion of their games that have seen three or more goals scored, both at 72%. Equally significantly, Benfica’s rate rises to 88% when at home, meanwhile Sporting’s average rises to 81% when on the road.

Picking a winner is a trickier call, but given their form and the high likelihood of a goal-intensive encounter, Sporting Lisbon to win either half at 2.0 also looks excellent value.

🔴 Benfica Continue to Churn Out Results

Benfica have been incredibly consistent this season, dropping points in just seven separate games, one fewer than their opponents on Saturday.

If it weren’t for a poor mid-season patch of form, which saw them pick up just three points from a possible 12, they would surely have been crowned champions at this point.

At the time, it was clear for all to see that they were in the midst of a confidence crisis, but a prompt recovery has seen them excel ever since. Since that run, Benfica have won 12 of their 13 league games, drawing the remainder against Arouca.

They also impressed in the Champions League, knocking out Monaco, having been the better side across both legs, before falling to Barcelona, despite putting in a spirited performance at home, which resulted in them accumulating 1.75 xG to Barcelona’s 1.12.

🟢 Gyokeres to Fire Sporting to the Title?

Having led the Portuguese top-flight for pretty much every gameweek to date, Sporting find themselves in a strong position to make it back-to-back titles for the first time since 1952-1954. They come into this clash undefeated in 19 league games, having won eight of their last nine domestically.

Gyokeres has undoubtedly been largely responsible for both, having followed up on his breakthrough season with a truly remarkable campaign, bagging 38 league goals, over double that of his closest Golden Boot contender.

With the Swedish forward heavily linked with a move away from the club this summer, he has the opportunity to make the perfect exit. Having bagged seven goals in his last three games, he’s in hot form and could be well poised to make the difference in what otherwise looks a finely-balanced affair.

📊 Benfica v Sporting Head-to-Head Key Stats

This fixture hasn’t favoured Benfica in recent times, with Saturday’s hosts failing to win any of their last five Lisbon derbies (inside 90 minutes), recording two draws and three losses.

That said, when these sides last met, Benfica managed to take their rivals to penalties, where they won 7-6 and were crowned Taça da Liga champions. That was in contrast to the reverse fixture in the league, in which Benfica were firmly second-best, with the full time score reading 1-0 in favour of Sporting.

One interesting trend in games between these sides is that of both teams scoring. BTTS has been a winner in seven of the last eight meetings.

Football Predictions at Andy's Bet Club

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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.