We have some exciting fixtures to look forward to in the Portuguese topflight this week, including the meeting between Paços de Ferreira and SL Benfica.
The game will be played at the Estádio da Capital do Móvel on the 26th of January and the hosts begin the week bottom of the table on 6 points while the visitors are top on 44 points.
Paços de Ferreira come into the match on the back of a 2-1 home defeat in the Primeira Liga at the hands of Sporting Braga on the weekend.
Sporting Braga opened the scoring in the 58th minute but Paços de Ferreira equalised 10 minutes later. In the final minutes, Sporting Braga scored the winner and Paços de Ferreira had a man sent off.
That result means Paços de Ferreira have won only 1 of their last 22 fixtures in all competitions. The victory came in their most recent away league match against Rio Ave.
Paços de Ferreira scored the only goal of the game in the 34th minute to pick up their single victory to date in the league this season.
Home form in the Primeira Liga shows Paços de Ferreira have failed to win any of their 11 most recent league fixtures on home soil. They have lost 8 of those 11 matches and have failed to score a goal in 3 of their last 5 home league games.
SL Benfica travel to the Estádio da Capital do Móvel having beat Santa Clara 3-0 away from home in the Primeira Liga last weekend.
SL Benfica opened the scoring in the 9th minute and doubled their advantage just 7 minutes later. SL Benfica added a third goal with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Trends show SL Benfica are undefeated in each of their last 4 matches in all competitions and have lost only 1 of their last 33 competitive fixtures this season, which is a tremendous record.
In terms of the Primeira Liga, SL Benfica are undefeated in 17 of their last 18 games and they have won 15 of those 18 matches.
Away form in the league shows SL Benfica have lost only 1 of their 11 most recent games on the road. SL Benfica have kept a clean sheet in 9 of their last 11 away league matches.
Looking ahead to the team news and Paços de Ferreira will be without suspended defender Maracás. Every other player should be fit and available.
SL Benfica have no injuries or suspensions to worry about and should be at full strength.
This is a game SL Benfica will start as heavy favourites but may not have everything their own way. This could be a tricky away assignment but we expect to see the league leaders take maximum points, with both teams scoring.