Sporting host Boavista this Sunday in matchday 26 of the Portuguese Football League and will be hoping to stay top of the league, with Benfica one point behind them at Casa Pia.
Two Lisbon teams, separated by one point and belonging to different destinies in the Europa League, play this Sunday at the top of the championship, and the Lions recover from elimination at the hands of Atalanta with a trick in the chess. Players who do not lose will have two trips.
The Lions also saw third-placed Porto beat Vizel (4-1) on Saturday to temporarily sit four points behind the leaders, now with added incentive to win in a stage in which they only play domestically countries since I League and Portuguese Cup.
For the Eagles, qualifying against Rangers will be a highlight before traveling to Rio Mayor, a borrowed home from the Geese, who currently sit in a quiet 12th place.
The Roger Schmidt-led side will take the field at 6pm, two and a half hours ahead of Sporting Boavista, and could even take the lead by waiting to see what happens in Alvalade.
Earlier, red-bottom Desportivo de Chaves, with 19 points, host Vitoria de Guimaraes at 15:30 in a match that Guimaraes needs to win to remain three points behind fourth opponents Sporting de Braga, who won Saturday. Gil Vicente (2-1).
Meanwhile, Moreirense and Arroca are fighting to stay on course for the European Cup spots, with the former in sixth place on 39 points and the latter in seventh on 34.
Program for round 26:
– Friday, March 15:
Estoril Praia – Portimonense, 1:0.
– Saturday, March 16:
Famalican – Estrela da Amadora, 0:0.
Sporting Braga – Gil Vicente, 2-1.
Farense – Rio Ave, 1-1.
Porto – Visela, 4:1.
– Sunday, March 17:
Desportivo Chaves – Vitoria Guimarães, 15:30.
Moreirense – Arroca, 15:30.
Casa Pia – Benfica, 18:00.
Sporting – Boavista, 20:30.