On Friday night, Benfica face a crucial trip to mid-table Santa Clara in the Primeira Liga, as the visitors attempt to stay in touch with leaders Porto.
Santa Clara are enjoying a respectable campaign in the Portuguese top-flight so far this season. The home side currently sit ninth in the Primeira Liga, but their recent league form has dipped.
A 2-2 draw at Feirense last time out in the Primeira Liga means that the home side has now won just two of their last eight league games. Their recent league matches have been relatively low scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in three of their last four league outings.
One big negative for Santa Clara of late is their home form, as they have lost five of their last six matches on home soil.
Their recent home matches in the Primeira Liga have been high scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in eight of their last nine matches. A big factor of those recent high scoring games is that the home side has conceded at least twice in eight of those aforementioned nine matches.
Benfica are in desperate need of a victory, as the Eagles currently find themselves third in the table and a massive seven points behind leaders Porto.
The visitor’s recent form has been strong overall, as they have won six of their last seven Primeira Liga games. Their recent matches in the Portuguese top-flight have been relatively high scoring, with five of their last eight league games producing over 2.5 goals.
Bruno Lage’s team have won three of their last four away games in the league. A defeat at Portimonense last time out ended a three-game winning run on their travels for the visitors.
Forebet predicts that Benfica will record a victory in a low scoring game to maintain their good recent form in the Primeira Liga.