Benfica have taken advantage of Sporting CP going off the boil to take over at the top of the Primeira Liga table ahead of the Lisbon rivals meeting at the Estádio José Alvalade on Sunday evening.
The Verde e Brancos were flying this season under Ruben Amorim, but his departure to Manchester United has seen their form take a dive, with his successor Joao Pereira sacked after just eight matches in charge to be replaced by Rui Borges.
Benfica to win @ 8/5
Benfica have taken advantage of the turmoil at Lisbon rivals Sporting to jump into top spot in the Primeira Liga and they can solidify their position by winning the derby on away soil this Sunday.
Things were going swimmingly for Sporting at the start of the campaign with an 11-match winning streak taking them clear at the top of the table, but then Man Utd came calling and things have fallen apart since.
Manager Amorim was enticed to the Premier League by the Red Devils and was replaced by Pereira in the hotseat at the Estádio José Alvalade, but things haven't gone according to plan and Amorim's successor has already been relieved of his duties following a run of just two wins from his seven matches.
Vitoria Guimaraes boss Borges has been drafted in to replace Pereira, but he faces the ultimate baptism of fire and he may find the occasion too hot to handle at such short notice.
Win and he will immediately be a hero, but the signs are that he faces a debut of disappointment.
Benfica have been in a rich vein of form anyway and they would love nothing more than to stick the boot in on their bitter rivals.
The Eagles are on a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions and they have lost just three times in the whole campaign, meaning they can approach this contest full of confidence, and they can improve on their patchy derby record.
Bruno Lage's side have won just one of their last five derby dust-ups with Sporting, but this looks the perfect opportunity to improve that record with their rivals in such a state of flux off the pitch.
Benfica to win 2-1 @ 9/1
The Lisbon derby is often not short of goals and this latest showdown is likely to be lively, with the visitors fancied to run out 2-1 winners.
That has been the winning scoreline in the last three meetings between these two arch-rivals and action at both ends of the pitch can be expected.
Both teams have scored in eight of the last nine match-ups and over 2.5 goals has copped in the same sequence.
Benfica have scored at least twice in seven of their last nine away matches this term.
The visitors will be keen to pile on the pressure for Sporting and that could lead to a lively contest on Sunday evening.
Angel Di Maria to score @ 11/4
Angel Di Maria is no stranger to big matches and the Argentina World Cup winner could make his mark on the Lisbon derby this weekend by getting on the scoresheet for Benfica.
The Eagles veteran has bagged seven goals this term including five from his last eight outings and he remains a huge threat from dead-ball situations.
Di Maria is a lethal free-kick taker, but he has also shown himself to be deadly from the spot with four successful penalties included in his goal haul for the season.
In such a high-pressure fixture this weekend, the likelihood of a spot-kick being awarded is increased and Di Maria could be the man to take advantage and looks worth backing to get on the scoresheet at any time.
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Sporting CP - 6/4
Draw - 13/5
Benfica - 8/5
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.