Let’s go 87 years back and focus on March 31, 1935. Sporting’s first reception, in the National Championship matches, is against Benfica. The Lions won 3-1 in Campo Grande, goals from Rui Carneiro, Francisco Lopez, Soiro and Alfredo Falada for the Eagles, teams coached by Felipe Santos and Vitor Gonçalves. Since then, whether at Campo Grande, Lumiar, Estádio Nacional or Estádio José Alvalade (old and new), the 86th Portuguese derby of the league has been played again at the Sporting Stadium. Balance: 33 victories for the Lions, 33 victories for the Eagles and 21 draws, 125-125 in goals.
Impressive, isn’t it? Eighty-seven matches between the oldest rivals in Portuguese football, at the home of Sporting and for the most important competition in the national calendar, an absolute tie. Tomorrow, when Sporting Benfica start play in Round 30 of 2021/2022, both teams will want to win, and if neither happens, the unusual tie will continue between them. However, only the victory counts for Sporting and Benfica. to the lions, so as not to let FC Porto run away (or even come close); To the Eagles for trying to cut the distance to Sporting.
Read it in full in the print or Digital from the ball.
