In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two teams from the same town or city.
On Monday December 10, 2012 Estádio José Alvalade will host the first of two Lisbon derby matches throughout the 2012/13 Liga Zon Sagres season between Sporting Clube de Portugal (SCP) and Sport Lisboa e Benfica (SLB). Currently, SLB is in second place in the league with 10 games in at 26 points (Porto has 29 points but they just played their 11th game) and their green neighbours from down the street are tied in 8th place with 3 other teams for eight place. This is a better improvement for Sporting who were second dead last in the league for a good straight month or so.
In Portugal there is no greater derby then the Lisbon derby. Due to their recent success ,one can argue that "The Derby of Minho" between Vitória de Guimarães and Sporting Clube de Braga may be relevant, however not as popular. We can even say that there is a new derby in Portugal O Clássico or as some call it North vs. South between SLB and FC Porto. Those teams just hate each other there is no battle of local demographics there.
Both SLB and SCP cannot write each other's team history without mentioning the other team. In terms of players who can forget João Vieira Pinto who played 8 years for SLB and then in 2000, left to join the rival team SCP. That is quite alright because we stole the greatest Portuguese player of all time from them 40 years prior. In 1960 18 year old Eusébio left his local team in Moçambique Sporting Clube de Lourenço Marques (a feeder team for Sporting Lisbon) to play for Benfica. Eusébio would not only become the greatest player for Benfica and Portugal but one of the greatest in the world. This is something that the Sporting fans to this day dread is knowing that Eusébio was somewhat theirs and was stolen by their Lisbon rivals.
According to Wikipedia, The history of this derby extends back to 1907. At the time Sporting represented the wealthier society from Lisbon while Benfica fans represented the working class. Eight Benfica players switched to the Sporting side in search of better working conditions. The derby is also known as Derby Eterno, Derby da Segunda Circular or Derby da Capital.
I am of the personal belief that both teams should have dressed as many Portuguese players as possible. (That should be a general rule in Portugal itself but we will save that for another time) Think about it would Lorenzo Melarejo care as much about the derby as let's say Carlos Martins? (ex- Sporting player) But then you look at Benfica's captain Luisão who has probably played in this derby at least 20 times since his arrival in 2003. He knows it's a big deal and will wear that Benfica jersey proud. So, perhaps it's better to say that on Lisbon Derby Day Benfica and Sporting should play not only their Portuguese players but the foreign ones who have been around and have stuck around 5-10 years because they love their team.
It's not going to be a walk in the park for Benfica. A win tomorrow will put them still tied for first place. Depending on other results in the league a win for Sporting will get them to 7. Sporting have the fans on their side. The Sporting Claque's will be at full force against Benfica's Claque's. Sporting are out of all UEFA competitions which mean they have only the league to worry about now. At this time of year turning around and coming back to finish in the top 5 is not out of the question. Sporting have to start playing their games with a no pressure attitude. The results will start coming in for them. If Benfica lose points tomorrow then they will be in the same position as they were last year and that is chasing Porto for first place. Something that as a Benfica fan I hate going through on a yearly basis.
In total, Benfica has 69 titles while Sporting CP has 45 titles. The only cup that Sporting has won more then Benfica is the Portuguese Super Cup. I must add that Benfica has two back to back UEFA Champions League and several finals. Has Sporting ever gone past the round of 16?
For all of my Sporting fans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aW7mXMSZlE
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