Sunday afternoon, 4 PM. The Luz Pavilion will be buzzing. It’s the fifth round of the Liga Placard, and it’s not just any game – it’s the futsal derby between Sporting and Benfica. These clashes always carry extra weight, but Sporting’s coach, Nuno Dias, sounds remarkably calm and confident as the big day approaches.
Dias believes his team is in top form. “I feel the team is in a good place right now,” he told club media. “They’re confident throughout the game, they’re strong. We’re doing things well, hitting crucial shots, and stretching leads when matches are tight.” He sees this ability to convert chances and maintain control as a key sign of a truly great squad. The coach also noted the healthy competition within the team. “It’s what we’ve felt early in our work this season: a confident squad that puts in the effort. They know there are many great players available. This internal competition makes everyone focus more and work harder. When that happens, I’m happy. It’s tough to pick the lineup for the weekend, but it’s a good kind of problem to have.”
Of course, the memory of Sporting’s dominant 6-1 Supertaça win over Benfica still lingers. That result certainly got people talking. Yet, Dias quickly put that match into perspective, highlighting how different each derby truly is. “That game was tough,” he explained. “Being 4-0 up at halftime and winning by a wide margin doesn’t fully show what happened on the court for those 40 minutes. Again, we managed to pull away at specific times and we were effective. The game had different twists and turns.” He insisted, “Every game and every derby is unique. They all have different stories. I hope this one ends similarly, at least with a win. But we know it will be completely different from other games, and it will definitely be hard.”
Despite the rivalry and the Supertaça result, Dias made it clear: this match isn’t a decider, not by a long shot. “There are so many rounds left and many opponents. This game is important, just like all of them, but it will never be decisive. You never have a decisive game on the fifth matchday.” He stressed the long road ahead, warning against complacency. “We have many more rounds to play, many tough teams to face. The smallest slip, the slightest lack of focus, can cost us points, and we don’t want that.” To illustrate his point, he recalled last season: “In the regular season, we drew both games against Benfica. So, first place wasn’t decided in those matches; it was decided against other opponents.” This derby is certainly important for bragging rights and momentum, but the journey to the top is long and filled with many battles.