Benfica will be aiming to secure their first Primeira Liga title since 2019 with a victory over already-relegated Santa Clara at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on Saturday evening.
The Eagles know three points in their final game will secure the Portuguese crown ahead of rivals Porto, although even a point should be satisfactory when considering Benfica's largely superior goal difference.
Match preview
© Reuters
Benfica had the opportunity to wrap up the Primeira Liga last Sunday when they travelled to Sporting Lisbon to round off their away campaign, but their four-game winning run came to an end.
Goals from Trincao and Ousmane Diomande for the hosts had the Eagles staring at their first loss since the middle of April, but strikes in the last 20 minutes from Fredrik Aursnes and Joao Neves rescued a point.
Roger Schmidt's side have shown their powers of recovery on the road on numerous occasions this season - most notably coming from two goals down to draw 3-3 at Champions League finalists Inter Milan last month - but it is now 90 minutes on home soil which will determine the fate of their season.
Benfica sit top of the Primeira Liga standings as Saturday's crucial clash approaches, two points ahead of Sergio Conceicao's Porto who host top-five hopefuls Vitoria de Guimaraes in their campaign-ender.
The Eagles should be confident of earning the maximum needed to ensure they finish first - Schmidt's men boast the best home record in the division this term, winning 14 of their 16 matches at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica.
© Reuters
Despite a mini revival since the start of May, Santa Clara face a daunting assignment at Benfica on Saturday in the knowledge that their five-year stay at the top table of Portuguese football will end at the full-time whistle.
The Azoreans have won two of their last three matches - an Andrezinho goal secured a 1-0 victory over Portimonense last time out - but the 5-3 loss at Braga almost a fortnight ago sealed their relegation fate.
Danildo Accioly took charge of struggling Santa in February as the club desperately looked to alter the course of their campaign, but the 42-year-old's inability to win a game until this month gave them little chance of avoiding the drop.
Level-headed visiting supporters on Saturday will not be expecting much from their side against Benfica, especially considering that Santa Clara have managed one league win on their travels in 16 attempts, scoring a league-low eight goals in the process.
Five-goal winger Gabriel Silva has been a shining light for the division's basements boys this season - the 21-year-old will almost certainly be playing his final game for the club this weekend as he returns to parent club Palmeiras at the end of the term.
Team News
© Reuters
Benfica will be attempting to secure the Primeira Liga title without the help of Paris Saint-Germain loanee Julian Draxler on Saturday, with the German still recovering from a season-ending ankle injury he suffered in February.
Joao Mario was replaced at half time against Sporting Lisbon as Schmidt opted to bring on defender Alexander Bah, but the Portuguese midfielder should retain his place in the starting XI as the Eagles look to impose themselves on the visitors.
Santa Clara are expected to name a similar side to the one which beat Portimonense last weekend, meaning Italo is likely to partner Ygor Nogueira in the visitors' backline.
Striker Matheus provided the assist for Andrezinho's winner last time out - the 25-year-old is another Azoreans player who will be returning to a parent club in Brazil after this match.
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Aursnes, A Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Neves, Chiquinho, Mario, R Silva, Neres; Ramos
Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Batista; Sagna, Ygor, Italo, Nunes; Jordao, Adriano, Andrezinho, Aleida, Silva; Matheus
We say: Benfica 3-1 Santa Clara
Benfica should be confident of beating a wounded Santa Clara side on Saturday, but the high stakes are likely to result in a nervy evening for the hosts if they do not score early on.
The Azoreans will appreciate a trip to a Portuguese giant before beginning their preparation for a season in the second tier - we cannot imagine them earning anything for their efforts in this one, however.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
