Our prediction for this Taca de Portugal match:
Sporting
Match Time & Date:
29/02/2024
21:45
Prediction: NA
Benfica
There will be fireworks when Sporting CP and Benfica face each other in the Lisbon derby in the Taca de Portugal semis. The Lions dropped two points in a 3-3 draw with Rio Ave at the weekend and they face yet another tough challenge against the Eagles. Former Barcelona winger Trincao limped off with injury in the last league match, with Marcus Edwards likely to sneak into the starting XI.
Benfica, on the other hand, rolled over Portimonense 4-0 at the weekend, with the team extending their excellent goal-scoring run in the Portuguese top flight. Given Sporting’s attacking potential, we believe that there is a big value in betting on both teams to score. There are no fresh injury worries in the visiting team ahead of the local derby, but former Bayern Munich left-back Juan Bernat remains in the recovery room. As always, a man to watch in the away team will be Argentina ace Angel Di Maria.
Highlighted Player (Angel di Maria):
Angel Di Maria is a professional footballer who played for Argentine side Rosario Central at the start of his senior career. The left-footed winger is very quick on the ball and he often makes life difficult for opposition defenders. After playing for Benfica between 2007 and 2010, the Argentine superstar signed for Real Madrid on 28 June, 2010 for a fee of €25 million + €11 million in bonuses.
Despite impressing with los Blancos in the 2013/2014 La Liga campaign, the club chiefs decided to sell him to Manchester United on 26 August, 2014. Di Maria was playing below expectations at Old Trafford and he scored three goals in 27 league games for the Red Devils.
In 2015 he moved to Paris Saint-Germain and he scored 10 goals in 29 league appearances for les Parisiens in the 2015/2016 Ligue 1 campaign. In 2014 he won the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid and that is considered the biggest success of his career. Angel Di Maria was born in Rosario on 14 February, 1988.
Highlighted Team (Sporting):
When it comes to official club members, Portugal giants Sporting Lisbon are the sixth club in the world. Commonly referred to as Leoes which is Portuguese for Lions, Sporting Lisbon were founded in 1906 and are one of the founders of the Primeira Liga.
Sporting’s main rivals are Benfica, with both teams contesting the Lisbon Derby, one of the most fierce ones in Europe. Lions play their games at Estadio Jose Alvelade in front of 50,000 people and are the third most successful club in the country with 46 titles in Portuguese competitions and a title in the European Cup Winner’s Cup from 1963-64.
During this time that is also known as the club’s golden years, Sporting Lisbon won the majority of their 18 Primeira Liga titles in total. Sporting Lisbon boasts the quality football youth academy system which has yielded world-class footballers such as Paulo Furte, Simao Sabrosa, Nani and Ballon d’Or winners Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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