Benfica 1-1 Sporting LIVE RESULT: Top two sides in thrilling draw to send Primeira Liga title race to the final day
BENFICA fought back to secure a 1-1 draw with Sporting to send the Primeira Liga title race to next Saturday's final day.
Sporting took the lead thanks to Francisco Trincao's strike with an assist from the in-demand Vikor Gyokeres.
But Kerem Akturkoglu equalised for the hosts to send the title race to the final day with both clubs level on 79 points, with Sporting ahead thanks to their superior goal difference which is just three goals more than Benfica.
- Kick-off: 6pm BST
- Benfica starting line-up: Trubin, Tomas Araujo, Antonio Silva, Otamendi, Carreras, Florentino, Aursnes, Di María, Kokcu, Akturkoglu, Pavlidis
- Sporting starting line-up: Rui Silva, Geny, Quaresma, Diomande, Inacio, Maxi Araujo, Debast, Hjulmand, Trincao, Pote, Gyokeres
- TV channel/ live stream: Triller TV
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Otamendi slams Sporting
Benfica captain Nicolas Otamendi has slammed Sporting players for going to ground too easily.
He said after a fiery derby: "We were the ones who tried the hardest to get a positive result. We wanted the win, we tried.
"They scored in the first few minutes and didn’t do anything else. It’s a shame. We tried to win, but we’ll have to move on to the next game.
"We wanted the result, they threw themselves to the ground, they didn't want to play, you could see it on their face."
'One more game'
Sporting boss Rui Borges has remained calm about his side's title chances.
He said post-match: "We have to win the last game, otherwise this draw is worthless.
"We only depend on ourselves and in a game at home, with the support of our fans, who have been incredible. It's natural that they [players] express this happiness.
"But we've already told them that there's one game left. We haven't won anything yet. We have to be as serious as we were here to beat Vitoria."
Di Maria hooked
Bruno Lage has explained why he subbed Angel Di Maria off at half-time, saying: "Everything was normal. Our aim was to put players of great quality behind the midfielders and in front of the centre-backs.
"They like to press and we had to make changes. Whoever came on did their job.
"It's about making substitutions and managing the situation in the best way possible."
Diomande impresses
Ousmane Diomande, 21, once again caught the eye in a tough to break down Sporting backline tonight.
It is performances like today which has seen him linked with Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd and Aston Villa.
His stats vs Benfica:
- 7 Clearances
- 2 Shots Blocked
- 2 Interceptions
- 3 Tackles
- 6/8 Ground Duels Won
- 2/5 Successful Long Balls
- 84% Pass Accuracy
What's next?
Sporting and Benfica remain level on points at the top of the table heading into the final game of the season.
The green and white side of Lisbon have the upper hand as this season's head-to-head record will decide if they finish on the same amount (1-0 Sporting and 1-1 results in the league).
It means Benfica must better their rivals result on the final day of the season next Saturday.
Benfica head to Braga and Sporting welcome Vitoria.
To end the Portuguese season, Benfica face Sporting in the cup final on May 25.
Tempers flare
Credit: AP 
Credit: Reuters Shocking scenes
A Benfica fan reportedly charged onto the pitch and tried to confront the referee at the end of today's Lisbon derby.
Unused Sporting sub Ricardo Esgaio was given a red card amid the chaos for squaring up to Nicolas Otamendi.
FT: Benfica 1-1 Sporting
And tempers are flaring at full-time.
Pushing and shoving between a few players at the end. The red card has come out but unclear who for.
Benfica gave it everything but Sporting stood firm. An early goal after good work from Gyokeres and an even better finish from Trincao did the job.
They then defended brilliantly and only a moment of Pavlidis magic unravelled them.
The title is still to be decided but Sporting are very nearly there.
They only need to match Benfica's result next week to win the league as they are level on points and Sporting have the better head-to-head record.
Credit: EPA Benfica 1-1 Sporting
90+6. Gyokeres buys his team a foul with his hold up play.
Otamendi is desperate to win it back and it is deemed too much and he goes through the Swede with his back to goal.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
90+5. Benfica are running out of time.
A shot from Kokcu deflected into the path of Schjelderup, but he gets his header all wrong and it rolls well wide.
Silva will now take an age over this goal-kick.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
90+3. St Juste nicks it and breaks forward.
He is cynically fouled by Kokcu and the Turkish star is booked.
Diomande reads the game well to cut out another Benfica attack.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
90+2. Pavlidis sprints off and Cabral comes on.
Sporting are sat deep and are compact in their shape, no way through for their Lisbon rivals.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
89. There is space for Sporting on the counter, but they are not making the most of it.
Carreras has gone off but is now in the technical area waving at his team-mates like a manager.
SEVEN minutes of injury time to go.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
87. Anger from the Benfica supporters as Catamo goes down after Dahl's cross smashes him in the face.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
85. Gyokeres picks it up from deep, turns, then carries the ball forward at speed.
He then unleashes a shot but it is tame and straight at the keeper.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
83. Hjulmund fouls Kokcu in the centre off the pitch and it enrages the home support, who think the Sporting man should be sent off as he is already on a yellow.
Benfica make two subs as Akturkoglu and Carreras go off for Bruma and Dahl.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
81. Triple change for Sporting.
M.Araujo, Quaresma and Trincao go off. Reis, St Juste and Harder come on.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
79. Stunning sliding tackle by Carreras, but he appears to have pulled a muscle during the challenge.
Benfica play on such is their desperation to win this game.
He is now back up on his feet after treatment.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
77. Pavlidis hits the foot of the post.
Sporting have been tough to break down defensively all day, but they are suddenly nowhere to be seen.
Belotti gets down the right and pulls it across to Pavlidis, who fires beyond Silva but it hits the outside of the woodwork.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
75. Benfica pinch the ball high up the pitch but waste a 3 vs 3 with a wild pass. Huge groans from the home fans.
Sporting counter and Trincao cuts in to fire over the bar.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
73. Schjelderup causing problems with his trickery since coming on and he wins a free-kick in a dangerous area for Benfica after being chopped down by Quaresma.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
70. Subs for both Quenda replaces Goncalves.
Benfica are going for it, striker Belotti is on for defender Araujo.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
68. Sporting do their best to slow this game down and let it not get frantic.
Akturkoglu is booked for a late challenge.
Benfica 1-1 Sporting
65. Chaos is here. Silva charges miles out his goal, he kicks the ball and Akturkoglu and now the goalkeeper is down injured.
A reminder, a draw means we go down to the last day of the season.
Sporting keep the head-to-head advantage and just need to match Benfica’s result next week to win the league as they will remain level on points.
GOAL: Benfica 1-1 Sporting
63. Take a bow Pavlidis! Benfica needed a hero and he has delivered!
He dribbles past one, two, three and then four. Messi would be proud.
It's then flashed across goal and Akturkoglu taps it home. Game on.