Last seasons Primeira Liga runners-up Benfica are simply trying to secure a top-three spot in the Portuguese top-flight this season, as they head into Thursday night’s trip to Portimonense.
The visitors are currently third-place in the table, which would be enough for a place in the Champions League qualifiers for next season.
However, they head into Thursday’s clash with fourth-place Sporting Braga breathing down their necks, just two points further back. Jorge Jesus’ team are also six points behind second-place reigning champions Porto.
The Eagles had been in decent form of late until a shock 2-1 home defeat by Gil Vicente last time out. The defeat ended a run of six straight league wins and seven straight clean sheets in the Primeira Liga for the visitors.
Benfica are unbeaten in five away games in the Primeira Liga, having recorded wins in their last three league matches on their travels.
They have also kept clean sheets in four straight away matches in the Primeira Liga while scoring at least two goals in their previous three league outings on the road.
Portimonense have moved away from the relegation zone in recent weeks after recording three straight league wins over Nacional, Vitoria Guimaraes and most recently Famalicao.
The wins have moved the team from the Algarve seven points clear of the relegation play-off spot in the Primeira Liga table. They are also now eight points clear of the automatic relegation berths.
The home side has an inconsistent record at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao of late, as they have won three of their last six league games on home soil.
However, they do have a good recent defensive record on home soil in the Portuguese top-flight, as they have kept clean sheets in three of their last four matches.
Forebet predicts that Benfica will consolidate their top-three spot by recording a victory in a high-scoring encounter.