Liga Bwin: X-ray of the Sporting-Benfica clash

In the penultimate round of the Liga Bwin, Benfica faces Sporting, at the Estádio José Alvalade, a clash scheduled for 8:30 pm on Sunday, May 21.

One win away from becoming national champions, the Reds, leaders of the competition since the opening round, face the 4th place, against whom they start with the ambition of extending the current streak of four consecutive wins, which had its last stage in Portimão, against Portimonense (1-5).

This will be the 316th official match between the two teams, and the record is favorable to Benfica. Looking at the matches for the National Championship, the reds totaled 82 wins (46%) and 46 draws (26%) in 177 matches.

On matchday 33 of the League, Roger Schmidt's men have a rival that is still fighting for the qualification for the Champions League, having taken 12 points in the last four rounds, just like Benfica.

On the offensive level, the leader of the Liga Bwin outperforms its 17 opponents: it has 77 goals scored, being the best attack. With 18 goals scored, Gonçalo Ramos leads the top scorers list, followed by João Mário (17) and Taremi (17). Pedro Gonçalves (15) is Sporting's top scorer.

According to Wyscout, Benfica, the second team with more shots in the competition, has an advantage in this parameter (510 against 483 from the lions), displaying 39.2% of shots on target versus 38.5% of the lions.

Roger Schmidt's team arrives at the penultimate round as the team who crosses the most (730 crosses with a 37.1% accuracy, a better balance than the lions, who have 713 crosses and 28.9% success rate). On the individual level, Grimaldo (193) is the player who stands out the most in the item, ahead of Nuno Santos (174).

If we look at the play build-up, the Reds are at the top of the pass ranking (18 927 versus 18 100 of the lions, vice-leaders). The difference in the key passes is evident, with Benfica also in 1st place in this item (216 against 152 from Sporting, 3rd).

The two eternal rivals maintain the position in the passes into the final third, a parameter in which there are closer to each other (2239 from Benfica against 2177).

Best defense of the Championship (18 goals conceded), the eagles face an opponent who has already conceded 11 more goals (29), holding the 3rd best record, equal to Braga.

After 32 round, Benfica is the team who concedes the fewer shots (206), while Sporting appears right behind (230).

Also on the back line, Roger Schmidt's men have better rates in defensive duels with 63.1% success rate in 2279 duels carried out. Sporting, on the other hand, has a success rate of 61.1% in 2163 duels. 

In the previous round, Sporting played in 3x4x3 against Marítimo, a match which they won b y2-1 at home. Adán, Diomande, Coates, Matheus Reis, Bellerín, Ugarte, Pedro Gonçalves, Arthur, Marcus Edwards, Trincão and Paulinho were the player chosen by Rúben Amorim.