Benfica 2-0 Sporting: the side who actually tried to score eventually did
For a contest that is often amongst the most exciting derbies in Europe, Sporting and Benfica have produced two really dull games this season. Benfica won this one because they offered some form of attacking threat. Sporting didn’t.
Benfica still miss Saviola and haven’t quite figured out what to do when he’s injured – this time it was the turn of Eder Luis, a wide forward who occupied the right-hand channel. Ramires and Angel di Maria switched wings throughout, and Carlos Martins’ good recent run of form saw him start ahead of Pablo Aimar.
Sporting lined up in a shape somewhere between a 4-3-2-1 and a 4-2-3-1. Pedro Mendes was the holding player, with Miguel Veloso ahead of him to the left. Joao Moutinho played ahead, and Djalo in a standard left-wing position, but the confusion stemmed from the position of Joao Pereira, a right-back by trade, playing in a deep, right midfield role.
The first half was a fairly boring affair – Sporting showing the same complete lack of attacking intent they demonstrated in the reverse fixture early in the season, whilst Benfica attacked but missed the creativity of Saviola and Aimar in central positions. Most of the home side’s attacks came from the flanks, with both Coentrao and Amorim getting forward well, and the main tactic was to get crosses into the box for Oscar Cardozo to challenge for.
Sporting occasionally offered a threat on the counter, generally down the left-hand side where Djalo was stationed, and where Liedson tends to drift to. The focus on this side, combined with Coentrao’s attacking nature, meant that Joao Pereira was often in space, but never looked comfortable running with the ball.
The second half was more open, partly because Aimar was brought on to replace Eder Luis, and immediately provided Pedro Mendes with more of a problem, as he looked to float around and create triangles with the wide players and Martins. The half-time monsoon over Lisbon may also have helped the game – passes were quicker, defenders were less confident on the ball, tackles were more rash, and the game was more open and exciting.
Benfica took the lead midway through the second half, and they fully deserved to do so. The value of getting both your full-backs forward was shown brilliantly – Amorim got to the byline, his cross evaded everyone in the centre but was picked up by Coentrao at the far post, and his driven cross was turned in by Cardozo. Coentrao was constantly in space throughout the game and often looked the player most likely to break the deadlock, with the closest player to him, Pereira, having a poor game. Moments before the goal, Coentrao had broken into a terrific position on the left side of the penalty area, only to dive looking for a penalty when he could have crossed.
After the first goal, Benfica settled down and played their best football, whilst Sporting never upped their game in search of an equaliser – Carlos Saleiro, a forward, replaced Abel, but it’s difficult to go from playing such a defensive game to suddenly drive forward in search of a goal. The resulting switch merely opened the game up and favoured a rampant Benfica, who scored a second through Aimar.
Carlos Carvalhal’s tactics failed – he clearly wanted to pack the midfield and make it difficult for Benfica’s full-backs, but failed on both counts. The first problem was solved by Jorge Jesus with Pablo Aimar’s introduction, and the second was pretty much ignored as both full-backs pushed forward in the second half in a real gung-ho approach from Benfica. Coentrao had few defensive worries so could get forward, whilst Amorim could get forward safe in the knowledge he was merely leaving 2 v 2 (Luisao and Luiz v Liedson and Djalo) at the back.
Benfica march on towards the title – they’ve still only lost one game all season, away at their nearest challengers, Braga, and after opening day draw, they have a 100% home record.
Sporting were negative and lethargic throughout and the difference between these two great rivals this season has been monumental – after 26 games, there is 26 points difference between the two. Carvalhal is leaving in the summer, and Sporting’s new manager will face a huge task to revolutionise this failing side.
Benfica 2-0 Sporting: the side who actually tried to score eventually did
You called Benfica’s striker “Jose Cardoso” when his name is actually “Oscar Cardozo”.
One thing I didn’t really understand though, was the insistence on exchanging Ramires and Di María. Both became essentially useless that way. Even though Di María was ineffectual throughout most of the game, his simple presence allowed Coentrão space on the overlap, João Pereira was always weary of going to support Abel because of Di María’s presence waiting deeper.
Hi ZM,
Sporting’s formation: basically the Dunga system, isn’t it?
That’s a very good point actually, Roberticus, I hadn’t considered it like that. Probably because Sporting were so defensive and unambitious throughout, it didn’t make me think of Brazil!
But yes, it’s a good comparison. It would be interesting to see it with Pereira replaced by a more technically able midfielder.
When Sporting had the ball, Veloso tended to come left, and Djalo more central, so it became 4-1-3-2ish.
By the way Roberticus, do you have a blog/site or anything?
Yeah ZM, it’s santapelota @ blogspot.com, but I havent’ written anything for about 3 months now; I’ve decided to ‘park’ it until I can get some good graphics software to lend it a more professional touch. The idea would be to used more video analysis. My aim would be to have it ready for the end of May, in the run up to the World Cup.
Quality, I’m gonna spend a long time reading some of that
Oops, I’ve been doing that all season. Cheers for the correction.
I agree. Wingers switching can be really effective but I don’t see the value in Jesus doing it in this formation.
Hi.
Good analysis, I often visit this fantastic website and learn a lot with it.
Benfica are really strong this season, but their defeat against Liverpool prooved that they still don’t have any chances with the biggest european teams. Untill this season, Benfica were usually beaten by 3º european division clubs for scores like 5-0 and 7-0. But they deserve the title in 2009/10, no doubt about that.
Meanwhile, I would like to ask you to make an analysis on FC Porto side, the club who’s used to represent Portugal in the Champions League and won 4 in a row untill last season. I’m still waitting to see FC Porto on the pages of ZM (ok, there’s our 2002-04 team with Mourinho, but that’s past).
Thank very much for your work.
João Cunha
There was a stark contrast between the two legs: Benfica had about 2000 chances in the first leg but could only put away the two penalties they were given. The second leg, Benfica barely looked able to create a sniff. To me it seemed that Liverpool pressed much more in the second leg, thus upsetting Benfica’s attacks regularly.
ZM: Did you do an analysis of these two legs? I’ve just recently started following and I didn’t see anything at a cursory glance.
Only first leg: http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/04/02/benfica-2-1-liverpool-tactics-formations-agger-cardoso/
I almost entirely forgot about the sending off too. Like *THAT* had any effect on the game… haha.
Roberticus….good to hear you will writing on your own site again. Its been a long two weeks since January!!! Been checking in, hoping there was something new. Looking forward to your World Cup posts.
Great stuff on this site ZM. You sometimes refer to Jonathan Wilson’s writing…you may be interested in stuff by Eric Batty who wrote a book in 1968 which looked at tactics and was a regular contributor to World Soccer magazine in the 60s and 70s.
[...] For a contest that is often amongst the most exciting derbies in Europe, Sporting and Benfica have produced two really dull games this season. Benfica won this one because they offered some form of attacking threat. Sporting didn’t. Benfica still miss Saviola and haven’t quite figured out what to do when he’s injured – this time [...] Zonal Marking [...]
nice post brother……
How about combining forces?