Betting tips / Michael Lintorn / 24 November 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

In Saturday's derby, Michael Lintorn believes even an in-form Sporting Lisbon will be overtaken by Benfica, whose excellent home record and place in the final 16 of the Champions League should get them over the line.

Over in Portugal this weekend, their four elite clubs collide, with Benfica and Sporting Lisbon sparring in the Derby de Lisboa 22 hours before Porto and Braga relive their Europa League Final.

This latest showdown between the two giants of Lisbon is intriguing because for the first time in three seasons, Sporting Lisbon actually head into the clash with some momentum.

In fact, they are the form team in the division right now courtesy of seven straight victories, which have quelled fears of another year in the wilderness and has been supplemented by swift progress in the Europa League.

Yet for all that success, Benfica are the side sitting pretty, joint-top of the table, undefeated in all competitions, 21 games into the campaign, and making light of Sporting's Europa League exploits by leading a Champions League group which features Manchester United.

And though this column opposed them in their last league outing at Braga, their recent results at the Estadio da Luz make it difficult to prescribe a repeat here. They have won all five of their domestic fixtures in front of their fans, scoring 15 times in the process.

Benfica have triumphed in the last five meetings between the rivals and are unbeaten in seven, so while Sporting are yet to lose on the road, the opportunity to back the hosts at meaty odds of [1.88] is a tough one to turn down.

Another bet to consider is both teams to score at [1.94], as Jorge Jesus' men are clean sheet-less in eight home matches despite losing none of them, and Sporting struck in the last derby after three successive blanks prior to that.

Best Bet: Benfica to win @ [1.88]
Other Recommended Bet: Both teams to score @ [1.94]