Benfica undefeated in 51 of the 83 visits to the rival

SL Benfica and Sporting lock horns at the Estádio José Alvalade on Saturday, May 5th, in a match from gameweek 33 of the Liga NOS. The oldest derby of Portugal is played for precisely 110 years – since 1908 – and, if we take into consideration only the matches of the National Championship, this will be the 84th encounter at the lions' home turf.

But let us go to the numbers and the facts… In 83 trips to Alvalade, Benfica returned to Luz with 31 victories and 20 draws. In other words, came back home with points 51 occasions, that is to say, in 61,5% of the clashes at the rival's home ground.

Since 2004, the year of the new era of the Estádio José Alvalade, more than a decade was left behind with numbers, memories and goals that tell the history of Benfica's more than 10 years of at Sporting's new venue.

In matches for the Championship, Sporting and Benfica face each other in the new stage of the Alvalade since May 2, 2004, precisely 14 years ago. In this period, Benfica was undefeated in 10 matches of the Portuguese top flight, with five wins and five draws.

In the first match in the new Alvalade, Sporting was coached by Fernando Santos and Benfica by José Antonio Camacho. A stunner from the Brazilian Geovanni (88’) decided the clash, paving the way to the Reds' qualification for the Champions League.

Since the turn of the 21st century, Benfica has already visited Alvalade 18 times. The team proved to be invincible on 13 occasions: 7 victories and 6 draws.

On May 6, 2000, in the penultimate round of the National Championship, the old Alvalade dressed in green and white to celebrate the title, in what was the last derby of the 20th century. But Sabry did not collaborate. The match was in the 88th minute when, after taking a free kick, the Egyptian from Benfica beat Peter Schmeichel, spoiling the lions' party.

Two seasons later, the story was very similar. The same scenario, Estádio José Alvalade, the same outcome. There were three rounds left to play in the 2001/02 Championship when Benfica delayed– once again – the lions' coronation, with a goal from um Edgaras Jankauskas, at 73’. Sporting managed to get the equalizer, with a goal from Mário Jardel through a penalty kick, at 89’.

In the last five matches in Alvalade alone, the Reds racked up 9 points in 15 at stake. They have always bagged points, with two victories and three draws.

Indeed, in the Rui Vitória era, the Reds never lost in Alvalade (won a match and drew another). It was on March 5, 2016 the first derby away from home with the current head coach at the helm of Benfica. In the match from week 25, thanks to a goal from the Greek Kostas Mitroglou, at 20’, the Two-time champions got the top spot of the National Championship, with two more points than the lions, in a year that would deliver the Third league title in  row. In 2016/17, Lindelof, through a free kick, sealed the 1-1.

on Saturday, there is a new trip to Sporting's home ground, in a important derby for the maths of the Liga NOS. The match from week 33 is scheduled for 8:30 pm and the tickets are on sale.

Text: Filipa Fernandes Garcia

Pics: Archive / SL Benfica