A clinical Sporting defeated a lacklustre Benfica in one of the biggest and most shocking Lisbon derbies of recent years.
Teófilo Gutiérrez took advantage of poor Benfica defending to give the visitors the lead. Islam Slimani’s header made it two before Bryan Ruiz effectively killed the game off after just 36 minutes with goal number three.
Rui Vitória named the same side that lost in Turkey against Galatasaray in midweek with Jonas and Raúl Jiménez leading the line for the home side.
Jorge Jesus, returning to the Estádio da Luz for the first time since becoming Sporting manager, was greeted by as frosty a reception as you can imagine. Bryan Ruiz returned to the starting eleven after passing a late fitness test. Despite the fact Sporting had played on Thursday, Jesus had the advantage of fielding a much rotated team with goalkeeper Rui Patrício the only repeat starter from the 5-1 win over Skënderbeu.
Those expecting a feisty start will not have been disappointed when João Pereira was late on Gonçalo Guedes. The right-back was lucky the young winger had already been flagged offside.
Benfica were caught playing out of defence by a high pressing Sporting and captain Adrien Silva found the Colombian Gutiérrez to finish after just 9 minutes. It was suicidal play from Benfica's André Almeida but goalkeeper Júlio César will think he could have done more to prevent the Sporting striker from scoring.
Just as Benfica looked to be getting back into the game again, with Jonas the danger man, Sporting were clinical again. A Jefferson cross found the head of Islam Slimani, as his crosses frequently do, his header was perfectly placed to give Sporting a shock 2-0 lead after just 21 minutes.
Jonas had the best chance for Benfica in the first half as he looked to curl a shot into the top corner from outside the box but his effort went just over the bar.
Game over?
As Benfica sought to get back into the game they were virtually knocked out of it when they were caught out again being wasteful in possession. This time Islam Slimani drove at the backtracking Benfica defence, the Algerian fired an effort in on goal that César could only parry. His save landed at the feet of Bryan Ruiz who stunned the Benfica fans to make it 3-0 to Jorge Jesus' team 36 minutes into the game.
Benfica's attempt to get back into the game led to a midfield war of attrition as Carlos Xistra, up to that point untroubled, found himself giving yellow cards out to several players before the half-time whistle.
After the break Rui Vitória elected to bring on Ljubomir Fejsa for Eliseu. The change didn't seem to make any difference on the pitch as Sporting were thoroughly in control of the game after the restart with Benfica doing little to help themselves.
Indeed, the atmosphere in the Luz was eerie until the 69th minute when Naldo made a mistake trying to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick and was robbed by Raúl Jiménez. The Mexican had a brilliant opportunity to reduce the deficit as Patrício was out of position. Jiménez didn't make the right decision, a recurring theme for Benfica players throughout the night, his effort saved by the Sporting goalkeeper but the near miss did wake up the packed Estádio da Luz.
A shock victory
From this point the home fans started to really get behind their team and Benfica improved because of it. Yet they couldn't find a way through a well organised Sporting defence and they fall 8 points behind their city rivals, albeit with a game in hand.
With all that has been going on, both on and off the pitch between both sides lately, this will feel like a symbolic victory for Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho, coach Jorge Jesus, and Sporting as a whole. Benfica seemed to wilt under the pressure during the match. When a player of Nico Gaitán's calibre found nothing going for him all game, it is evident it was a terrible day for the reigning Portuguese champions.
by Richard Cole
Benfica XI: Júlio César; Sílvio, Luisão, Jardel, ELiseu (Ljubomir Fejsa, 46', Pizzi, 67'); Gonçalo Guedes (Kostas Mitroglou, 77'), André Almeida, Andreas Samaris, Nicolás Gaitán; Jonas, Raúl Jiménez
Sporting XI: Rui Patrício; João Pereira, Paulo Oliveira, Naldo, Jefferson; João Mário, William Carvalho, Adrien Silva (Alberto Aquilani, 78'), Bryan Ruiz; Islam Slimani (Gelson Martins, 86'), Teófilo Gutiérrez
Goals:
[0-1] Teófilo Gutiérrez, 9'
[0-2] Islam Slimani, 21'
[0-3] Bryan Ruiz, 36'
