Benfica will hope to get back on top of Liga Portugal this Friday night when they play hosts to Famalicao in the Portuguese capital with a one-point gap on the league leaders Sporting Lisbon ahead of the final game of 2023.
After a sensational season last time out that saw Benfica finish 13 points ahead of their Lisbon rivals, the club are trailing Sporting after 14 games but have a chance to get back on top before the latter’s game on Saturday.
A bola estava a ‘pedir’ esta finalização 👏🏻📺 Acompanha os jogos na @sporttvportugal⚪️🔵 #amordeperdicao #LigaPortugalBetclic #FCFEPF #DiadoVilaNova pic.twitter.com/Czn4Q2HU13— Futebol Clube de Famalicão (@FCF1931_Oficial) December 18, 2023
A bola estava a ‘pedir’ esta finalização 👏🏻📺 Acompanha os jogos na @sporttvportugal⚪️🔵 #amordeperdicao #LigaPortugalBetclic #FCFEPF #DiadoVilaNova pic.twitter.com/Czn4Q2HU13
Better yet, Benfica have lost the fewest games in the league so far and come into the match with just one defeat and the best defensive record of 10 goals let in from 14 matches.
The reigning champions of Portugal come into this game on a eight-match unbeaten run that includes a win over Sporting that closed the gap to just one point.
Benfica needed two stoppage time goals that day, as a finish from Joao Neves in the 94th minute and a winner from Casper Tengstedt won the game in one of the most dramatic fashions ever witnessed in a Lisbon derby.
Further results during this run have seen Benfica make it into round of 16 of the Taca de Portugal where they will meet with Braga in early January after a 4-1 win over AVS in the last match and a victory over Friday night's opponents, Famalicao, in the fourth round - an own goal from Riccieli Eduardo got the ball rolling that day in the second half before Rafa Silva made sure of things in a 2-0 win, as Otavio was sent off.
The Lisbon giants last defeated Braga away from home in the league with a finish from Tengstedt early on in the match 11 days ago.
This also now means Benfica are two points clear of Porto in third.
As for Famalicao, it's been a successful season in some regards in their own way.
The club have finished within the top eight in all four of their seasons since earning promotion back into the top flight, and they remain seventh right now. On the other hand, a battle for a spot in the top four is unlikely to happen this campaign, as they sit 11 points adrift of Braga in fourth.
They have also failed to win any of their past four games, including that cup loss to Benfica. Forebet now predicts a draw here and under 2.5 goals.