These are the starting eleven for Benfica and Sporting this Sunday, at Estádio da Luz. The derby, the big game of the 16th round of the League, is scheduled to start at 6 pm.
BENFICA: Best eleven is available but with question marks on Neres and Rafa.
Roger Schmidt has all the players fit for this match against Sporting, at least from a clinical point of view. The big doubt lies in the current form of some important elements and whether or not they will be able to move up to the starting XI. Neres was away for a month recovering from injury and still hasn’t played a complete game, Rafa missed the two most recent (the first one due to suspension) and could accuse a break in rhythm. Apart from who the protagonists are, Schmidt will maintain the tactical design in 4x2x3x1 and the idea of pressure, of strong reaction to the loss of the ball.
4x2x3x1: Odysseias Vlachodimos; Alexander Bah, António Silva, Nicolas Otamendi and Grimaldo; Florentino, Enzo Fernández, João Mario, Rafa and Aursnes; Gonçalo Ramos.
SPORTING: The most anticipated eleven, with Nuno Santos back on the left wing
Rúben Amorim does not prepare any surprises for his visit to Luz. In that sense, Sporting will present the most anticipated team, at a time when they do not have Morita – the Japanese is recovered, but his physical condition is not desirable to advance to the competition. In that sense, the Japanese player’s space will be taken by Pedro Gonçalves (see page 11), who returns to the team after serving a suspension. For the rest, defense and attack with the expected trios and on the wings Porro on the right and the return of Nuno Santos, who started on the bench in Madeira, by choice, giving way to Arthur.
3x4x3: Antonio Adán; Gonçalo Inácio, Coates and Matheus Reis; Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte, Pedro Gonçalves and Nuno Santos; Marcus Edwards, Paulinho and Francisco Trincao.
