To add spice to the game former Benfica boss Jorge Jesus, who during the closed season he became the first Manager in history to move across the capital, takes charge of the Lions for the first time. Their head-to-head league games last season ended in 1-1 draws.
Both sides have travelled thousands of kilometres pres-season with Sporting winning the augural Cape Town Cup in South Africa after beating Crystal Palace 2-0 in the final with a brace of second-half goals from Montero.
Benfica’s North America adventure was not so successful with defeats to PSG (France) 2-3; Fiorentina (Italy) losing on penalties after a 0-0 draw and a 2-1 reversal against New York Red Bulls in the International Champions Cup.
Forty-eight hours before the SuperCup, Benfica ‘B’ open the Segunda Liga season when they play SC Olhanense at the José Arcanjo Stadium, Olhão (behind McDonalds on the EN125) on Friday 7 August kick-off 8.30pm.
There is sure to be a great atmosphere with the game being shown live on Sport TV. Olhanense have made twelve new signings, nine from the lower leagues, and their performances in pre-season friendlies have looked positive as Cristiano Bacci hopes to build on the success achieved at the end of last season.
Whilst Olhanense’s budget has been severely pruned there have been no money worries for Benfica who sent their ‘B’ team youngsters to the English Football Association’s new national centre at St. George’s Park, Staffordshire. Three games and three victories against non-league Salford, Oxford United and an impressive 1-0 win against Birmingham City has confirmed their pedigree.