Benfica warning for United

ALL derbies are equal but some are more equal than others, declared the Portuguese football paper O Jogo last week, a proposition that will be sadly familiar to Tottenham fans.

Porto and Benfica duly beat their local rivals at the weekend, both games finishing 2-0. But while Porto’s defeat of Boavista was routine, Benfica’s win at Sporting was a big boost to their confidence ahead of tomorrow night’s decisive Champions League match in Manchester.

Benfica’s chronic weakness away from home this season has left them struggling to keep up with the leaders, but an unexpected tactical switch paid off beautifully in Friday night’s game.