Champions League: Sporting and Benfica can help each other…….

Benfica’s defeat in Turin has greatly complicated the Champions League play=off scenario for José Mourinho’s team, but as the coach himself stated, the math is still on Benfica’s side… and Sporting could also enter the equation .

Now, both teams take to the field at 8 pm next Wednesday, and a victory in each of their respective games could help their eternal rival. Sporting travels to Athletic Bilbao’s home ground, and a win at San Mamés could help Benfica overtake one of their direct rivals for a place in the play=offs.

In Lisbon, Benfica will host Real Madrid, precisely one of the seven clubs that Sporting can overtake to secure a place in the “top-8” of the Champions League. Sporting are currently in tenth place and need to climb two places to avoid playing the two play-off matches, thus easing their schedule.

Benfica are currently in 29th position in this league phase and have a longer climb to make, although a victory for Sporting (in the event of a Benfica win) would give José Mourinho’s team a boost.