Having reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League in midweek, Benfica resume their Primeira Liga title charge when they visit the Estadio do Maritimo to face Maritimo on Sunday.
O Maior das Ilhas find themselves in the relegation dogfight after an underwhelming campaign and will be looking to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat against As Aguias since June 2020.
Match preview
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Maritimo were sent crashing back to earth in the Primeira Liga as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Gil Vicente when the sides squared off at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos last Sunday.
Despite having a plethora of clear-cut chances, the visitors were guilty of a lack of incisiveness as Pedro Tiba and Tomas Araujo scored in either half to hand the Gilistas their eighth win of the season.
A lack of sting up top has been a recurring theme and one reason behind Maritimo's underwhelming campaign as they hold the league's joint-poorest attacking record with 17 goal scores so far.
Prior to last weekend's defeat to the Gilistas, Maritimo snapped their run of four consecutive defeats as they mounted a second-half comeback to see off Santa Clara 3-1 on February 25.
Jose Manuel Gomes's men have picked up four wins, four draws and lost 15 of their 24 matches to collect 16 points and sit 16th in the Primeira Liga table, just one point above the automatic relegation zone and four off safety.
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Benfica, on the other hand, cruised to the quarter-finals of the Champions League last Tuesday when they thrashed Club Brugge 5-1 in the second leg of their last-16 clash at the Estadio da Luz.
Having picked up a 2-0 win in Belgium, As Aguias ran riot in front of their home fans as goals from Rafa Silva, Joao Mario, David Neres and a brace from Goncalo Ramos put them in a seven-goal advantage before Bjorn Meijer grabbed an 87th-minute consolation.
Benfica, who have now reached the last-eight of the Champions League for the second consecutive season, now turn their sights to the Primeira Liga, where they are pushing for their first title since the 2018-19 campaign.
Roger Schmidt's side picked up a seventh league win on the bounce last Friday when they edged out Famalicao 2-0 at the Estadio da Luz courtesy of goals in either half from Portuguese striker Ramos.
As Aguias, who are unbeaten in their nine league matches since the turn of the year — claiming eight wins and one draw — currently sit at the summit of the league table with a healthy eight-point cushion over second-placed Porto.
Benfica will be backing themselves to secure a fifth straight Primeira Liga away win for the first time this season as they take on a Maritimo side who they are unbeaten against in 18 of their previous 20 encounters, claiming 17 wins and one draw since January 2011.
Team News
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Maritimo will take to the pitch without Portuguese midfielder Diogo Mendes, who is yet to make an appearance this year after coming off injured in December's game against Sporting Lisbon.
Brazilian midfielder Val Soares will play no part in Sunday's game due to a one-game suspension after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking against Gil Vicente last time out.
In his absence, 30-year-old Stefano Beltrame could come into the fold for what will be his 12th league start of the season, teaming with Joao Afonso at the centre of the park.
With his strike against Club Brugge at the weekend, Mario became the first Benfica player to score in five consecutive Champions League matches since Eusebio in the 1963-64 campaign.
We expect the Portuguese forward to spearhead As Aguias' attack once again, alongside Silva and 21-year-old Ramos, who has been involved in six goals in his last four matches.
On the injury front, Schmidt will be unable to call upon the duo of Mihailo Ristic and German forward Julian Draxler, who are currently recuperating from muscle and ankle injuries respectively.
Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Carne; Winck, Junior, Santos, Costa; Afonso, Beltrame; Riascos, Xadas, Vidigal; Moreno
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Bah, Otamendi, Silva, Grimaldo; Aursnes, Luis; Neres, Mario, Silva; Ramos
We say: Maritimo 0-3 Benfica
Benfica will be licking their lips as they take on a struggling Maritimo side who have lost five of their last six matches. As Aguias currently appear unstoppable and given the gulf in class and quality between the two sides, we are backing them to come away with another huge victory.
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