Whether Sporting CP can really catch up with Portuguese league leaders Benfica with three games to go this season, depends on their match against historical rivals FC Porto on Saturday. Sporting play Porto at the Estadio do Dragao.
Benfica are currently on 82 points with two games to go this season. Sporting, placed second, meanwhile are on 77 points and have an extra game in hand.
Porto, third with 67 points, may be out of the title race but they will looking at nothing but bragging rights in front of their home fans in one of the most important fixtures of Portuguese club football. "A classic is always a classic. What we do know is that, when we start a match, we want to win it," said Porto coach Jose Peseiro to his club website ahead of the game.
"We need to play under pressure; those who aren't able to do it cannot play for this club; likewise, those that don't really want to be here, cannot play either. Maximum pressure brings optimal performance. We are playing for ourselves and for the fans, and we know they will be there supporting us. We want to put on a good show, especially for them."
Sporting, meanwhile, are currently having a great run of form. Like Benfica, they have also won all their previous five league fixtures this season. Jorge Jesus, who guided Benfica to two consecutive Portuguese league titles in 2014 and 2015, is now keen on achieving the same with Sporting CP, who he joined last summer.
"We are, as always, feeling calm and confident. We will have a great match tomorrow [against Porto]," said Jesus to his club's website ahead of the match. "Both teams have their objectives fixed now, but that doesn't take any pressure off FC Porto. They will want to win and to play well, just like we will. We have been better than FC Porto over the 31 matches played this season and we have 10 more points than them, but that doesn't take away from the quality they have.
"The confidence we are feeling right now didn't drop from the sky, it comes from the work we put in on the training pitch," the three-time Portuguese league coach of the year added.
Where to watch live
FC Porto vs Sporting CP is scheduled to kick off at 5:30 p.m. GMT (11 p.m. IST, 1:30 p.m. EST) on April 30.
In India, there will be no broadcast or online streaming of the game, but the live scores can be found on the FC Porto twitter handle.
In the UK and Ireland, viewers can catch the game on ESPN UK/HD.
In Portugal, viewers can catch the game on Sport TV1.
In the US, viewers can catch the game on Univision Deportes USA, Sport TV Americas and Fubo TV.
Radio commentary will be available on Radio Antena 1.
