PORTO and Benfica battle it out in a Primeira Liga grudge match under the lights this evening.
One of the fiercest clashes in the Portuguese calendar, these two sides are locked in a title battle with league leaders Sporting.
- TV channel: FreeSports – Freeview 64, Sky 422 or Virgin Media 533.
- Stream: LiveScore App – Google Play and App Store.
- Porto team: Marchesin, Nanu, Mbemba, Pepe, Zaidu, Luis Diaz, Sergio Oliveira, Uribe, Tecatito, Marega, Taremi.
- Benfica team: Vlachodimos, Gilberto, Vertonghen, Otamendi, Grimaldo, Pizzi, Silva, Weigl, Tavares, Darwin, Seferovic.
Stay up to date with every kick in our blog below…
- Craig Mahood
PORTO 0-0 BENFICA
1' An early attacking throw-in for the hosts.
A cross from the right is looking for Mbemba in the middle but Vlachodimos comes out to gather well.
- Craig Mahood
PEEEEEEEEEP!
WE ARE UNDERWAY IN PORTO!
- Craig Mahood
HERE COME THE TEAMS
- Craig Mahood
NO FANS AGAIN
Unfortunately,Portugal were plunged back into lockdown today after a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Like much of Europe, tonight's game will be played behind closed doors.
- Craig Mahood
THE TEAMS ARE IN THE TUNNEL
- Craig Mahood
READY TO GO
We are all set in Porto as we await the teams taking to the field.
It's set up to be a cracking contest between these two, let's hope it lives up to the billing!
- Craig Mahood
15 MINUTES TO GO
The final preparations are underway at the Estadio do Dragao.
Kick-off in a quarter of an hour!
- Craig Mahood
HOW WE STAND
It's full-time in Lisbon and Rio Ave have earned a 1-1 draw away at Sporting.
It now means that whoever picks up the three points tonight can close the gap to within two points at the top.
- Craig Mahood
BENFICA FORM: WWDWL
Estrela 0 Benfica 4
Benfica 2 Tondela 0
Santa Clara 1 Benfica 1
Benfica 2 Portimonense 1
Porto 2 Benfica 0
- Craig Mahood
PORTO FORM: W*WWWW
Nacional 2 Porto 2 (Porto win 4-2 after extra time)
Famalicao 1 Porto 4
Porto 3 Moreirense 0
Guimaraes 2 Porto 3
Porto 2 Benfica 0
- Craig Mahood
HARIS THE MAN
Haris Seferovic leads the line for Benfica again tonight and is the clubs top scorer in the Portuguese top flight.
The 28-year-old has seven goals in the league this campaign – joint with tonight's rival Sergio Oliveira.
Will the Swiss man add to his tally tonight?
- Craig Mahood
IS FELIPE ANDERSON NOT STILL THERE?
Yes, he is.
The Brazilian's horror loan-move continues as he has just under three hours of game-time to his name since his move.
Boss Sergio Conceicao questioned his work-rate in October and the West Ham man hasn't been seen too much since.
- Craig Mahood
BENFICA SUBS
Helton, Diogo Goncalves, Jardel, Samaris, Chiquinho, Everton, Pedrinho, Waldschmidt, Ramos
- Craig Mahood
BENFICA TEAM NEWS
Jorge Jesus has named his team for tonight’s crunch game at Porto.
BENFICA XI: Vlachodimos, Gilberto, Vertonghen, Otamendi, Grimaldo, Pizzi, Silva, Weigl, Tavares, Darwin, Seferovic
- Craig Mahood
PORTO SUBS
Diogo Costa, Leite, Grujic, Baro, Joao Mario, Felipe Anderson, Toni Martinez, Evanlison, Francisco Conceicao
- Craig Mahood
PORTO TEAM NEWS
Sérgio Conceição makes four changes to the team that thumped Famalicao 4-1 last week.
PORTO XI: Marchesin, Nanu, Mbemba, Pepe, Zaidu, Luis Diaz, Sergio Oliveira, Uribe, Tecatito, Marega, Taremi
- Craig Mahood
THE TEAM SHEETS ARE IN
- Craig Mahood
THEY MADE IT
The hosts have arrived.
Preparations are now underway before the warm-ups get started shortly.
- Craig Mahood
GOAL IN LISBON
Rio Ave have equalised at Sporting on the hour mark.
Dala Gelson rolling it into an empty net from six yards out.
- Craig Mahood
MAN OF THE MOMENT
Five goals in his last six for Sergio Oliveira.
Can he be the difference for Porto again this evening?
- Craig Mahood
THE HOSTS ARE ON THEIR WAY
The Porto team bus makes its way to the Estadio do Dragao.
- Craig Mahood
WHAT IS THE TEAM NEWS?
Malang Sarr, Marko Grujic and Toni Martinez all featured in the cup during midweek but are expected to drop out the side.
Carraca, Manafa and Fabio Vieira have all tested positive for Covid-19.
For the visitors Andre Almeida is out for the remainder of the campaign, while Gabriel Pires misses out through injury.
Joao Ferreira is a doubt as he looks to return from Covid-19 isolation.
Full team news expected shortly.
- Craig Mahood
O CLASSICO
Good evening and welcome along to live coverage of the heavyweight clash from Portugal as Porto host Benfica.
The sides are currently locked together on 31 points and in joint-second in Liga Nos, four points behind the unbeaten leaders Sporting Lisbon.
Sporting are currently in action at the moment and lead Rio Ave 1-0 thanks to a Pedro Goncalves goal.
The hosts have won an impressive 15 of their last 16 games while also losing only one of their last 18 home league games.
Porto also top the goalscoring charts, scoring 35 times in their 13 league games up until tonight.
Benfica themselves have one defeat in their last 14 games, including winning six of the last eight games they’ve played.
As you’d expect, only the two teams above them have scored more this campaign, meaning they sit in third on goal difference – four behind Porto.
The pair last met in the Portuguese Super Cup on December 23.
Sergio Olivieira – who has five goals in his last six appearances in all competitions – opened the scoring from the spot in the first half, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Luis Diaz made sure of the win in the last minute, receiving a through ball from Corona before firing home low into the bottom corner from an angle.
With 21 bookings in the last three meetings between these two, it’s safe to expect fireworks at some point tonight.
But three points is invaluable to tonight’s winners so keeping a full team on the park is a must.
It promises to be a good one and we are underway at 9pm.
Team news on it’s way.
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