They may be separated by just one point with 30 games remaining of the Liga NOS season, but you'll have a tough job explaining to anyone connected with FC Porto and Benfica that tomorrow's clássico will not be bristling with the burning intensity this fixture has come to embody in recent years.
The latest meeting between the two sides that have dominated the Portuguese championship over the past decade will be particularly testing for three men: the two coaches and Porto right-back Maxi Pereira, who controversially swapped the Red shirt for the Blue and White stripes after almost a decade of outstanding service at Benfica.
The match is a sell-out, as one would expect. Victory for either side could have a significant effect on the rest of the Liga title race, even coming at this nascent phase of the season.
Vitória steadies ship
It was not an easy start to life in the hot seat at the Portuguese champions for the former Vitória Guimarães manager Rui Vitória. A meek Super Cup defeat to Sporting and poor performances in their three opening liga games against Estoril, Arouca and Moreirense, raised plenty of question marks about the likeable 45-year-old's ability to cut it at this level.
But Vitória has steadied the ship by guiding his side to a sizzling 6-0 thrashing of Belenenses followed by an important win in their Champions League opener against Astana. Commendably, Vitória has not changed his demeanour one bit in defeat or in victory, and he undoubtedly has less pressure on him than his opposite number Julen Lopetegui.
A win for Benfica would arguably buy Vitória enough credit to banish question marks about whether he is up to the job, at least until the end of the season.
Lopetegui yet to taste victory against Benfica
The importance of the match is not lost on Spanish coach Lopetegui (see quote below), who saw his team lose the corresponding fixture 0-2 last season (two goals from the departed Lima). That result, coupled with the goalless draw at the Estádio da Luz at the tail of the season effectively cost FC Porto the title.
Given the huge investment made by the Dragons before the start of the last campaign, coupled with Benfica's fire sale that same summer, the fact Porto failed to wrest back the title seriously undermined Lopetegui's standing in the eyes of most Porto fans, not to mention the majority of the press.
The almost unanimous opinion is that once again Porto have the strongest squad in Portugal, so Lopetegui will be under intense pressure to make it count - something he manifestly failed to do in most big matches last season, at least domestically.
The Dragons looked excellent last weekend at Arouca, lining up with André André, Rúben Neves and Danilo in midfield, and Jesús Corona and Brahimi on the wings, so it was a surprise when the Spaniard did not stick to the line-up at Dynamo Kiev in midweek. Although the Portistas came within a whisker of victory, one cannot help but wonder whether Lopetegui's tendency to tinker with his line-up is beneficial or harmful to his side.
Porto's key players:
Maxi Pereira - How will the fiery Uruguayan right-back react to facing the club where he was considered a legend, until making the unthinkable move and instantly going from hero to public enemy number one among Benfica fans.
André André - The dynamic and intelligent André faced a huge task breaking into Porto's midfield given the quantity and quality of the options at Lopetegui's disposal in that sector, but he made the most of his chances off the bench and has been terrific in the last two matches as a starter.
Aboubakar - Replacing a striker of the calibre of Jackson Martínez is no easy task, but the Cameroonian is making a good fist of it, impressing with his all-round play quite apart from his 6 goals in 5 games.
Benfica's key players:
Luisão - The talismanic captain has been far from his best this season and Benfica need Luisão at the top of his game if they are to prosper at the Dragão tomorrow.
Samaris - Something of an unsung hero, the Greek midfielder has been consistently excellent for nigh on a year now. Faces a tough task against Porto's strongest sector.
Nico Gaitán - The Argentine has been at his brilliant best so far this season, and his creativity will be vital if Benfica are to pierce the Porto rear-guard.
Quote, unquote
Benfica coach Rui Vitória: "It's a clássico; a game that all players want to play in. With all due respect for all our other [liga] opponents, this game is different. We're going to the Dragão with immense ambition and huge determination to win."
FC Porto coach Julen Lopetegui: "I think Benfica are similar to last season, neither stronger nor weaker. We all know the significance of this game and the importance it has for our team and the title race. We will play with maximum determination, ambition and optimism. We're focused on what we have to do to win."
Kick-off: 7.15pm local time, Sunday 20 September
by Tom Kundert
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