S.L. Benfica Sporting. Followed in Europe, Africa and the Americas, any match between both teams is known as "dérbi de Lisboa" ("Lisbon derby"), "dérbi eterno" ("eternal derby"), "dérbi da Segunda Circular", "dérbi dos dérbis" ("derby of the derbies") – the most important football derby in Portugal. The rivalry between Benfica and FC Porto, which started with a friendly match on 28 April 1912, comes about as Lisbon and Porto are the largest Portuguese cities, respectively. Benfica and Porto are currently the two most decorated clubs in Portuguese football, with the former historically being the most decorated team overall. Any match between the
1996–97 S.L. Benfica season while the results in Europe were looking accordingly. In late October, Benfica visited Sporting for the Derby de Lisboa, losing one-nil and dropping down one position. A week later, with a further two more points dropped, Porto opened a three-point gap at the front. By the time the Clássico arrived, the distance was already five points. Losing 1–2 to Porto, increased it to eight. Affected by the defeat, Benfica lost for a second time on a row, with the priority changing from battling Porto in the title race, to defending the second place from Sporting. Autuori was sacked immediately, and