Late last Saturday evening, 49,000 football fans from all over Portugal converged on Lisbon to watch Benfica beat their arch-rivals Sporting Lisbon 1-0 at the Estádio José Alvalade.
A thunderous atmosphere greeted the two teams for what was certainly the most important Lisbon derby in several years.
Twenty coaches from the Algarve and the Alentejo made the trip to the capital, whilst those who could not get tickets joined thousands of other fans in cafés and bars to watch the action unfold on TV.
Fulham FC player Konstantinos Mitroglou, currently on loan at Benfica, got the all-important goal midway through the first-half.
Sporting’s Bryan Ruiz, signed from Fulham last summer, missed two glorious chances to snatch a point for the Lions. The three points saw Benfica leapfrog leaders Sporting and take a two point lead at the top of the Primeira Liga.
Photo: Sporting fans in good sprits as they prepare to leave Tavira for Lisbon
