Benfica continue their pursuit of a first Primeira Liga title since the 2018-2019 campaign when they go head to head with Vizela at the Estadio do FC Vizela on Saturday.
While the hosts will be looking to snap their three-game winless run, As Aguias set out to pick up a sixth consecutive league victory and extend their lead at the top of the league standings.
Match preview
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Vizela were denied their first away win of the year last Friday as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw against Gil Vicente when the sides squared off at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos.
Despite being under the cosh for most of the game and seeing less than 40% of the ball possession, Kiki Afonso struck with three minutes left in the game to cancel out Vitor Carvalho's 55th-minute opener and force a share of the spoils.
Manuel Tulipa's side have now failed to win any of their last six away matches across all competitions, picking up two draws and losing four since a 2-0 victory at Pacos de Ferreira on November 13.
While Vizela have struggled for results on the road, they have shown resilience on home turf, where they are unbeaten in five straight games across all competitions and have secured 10 points from a possible 12 in the league since the start of December.
The Vizelenses have picked up seven wins, five draws and lost nine of their 21 matches to collect 26 points and sit ninth in the Primeira Liga table, level on points with Chaves, Boavista and Portimonense.
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Benfica, on the other hand, maintained their six-point lead over second-placed Porto at the top of the league table as they cruised to a 3-1 victory over Boavista at the Estadio da Luz on Monday.
Following a relatively uneventful first half, the game sparked to life in the second half as goals from Gilberto, Goncalo Ramos and Petar Musa helped the hosts complete an impressive league double over Petit's men.
Prior to that, Benfica placed one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League as they picked up a 2-0 victory over Club Brugge in the first leg of their last-16 clash on February 12 courtesy of goals from Joao Mario and David Neres.
Roger Schmidt's men head into the weekend on a run of six wins from their seven league games in 2023, with a 2-2 draw against rivals Sporting Lisbon in another classic Derby de Lisboa showdown on January 15 being the exception.
Benfica, who are eyeing a sixth win in seven away matches across all competitions since the turn of the year, currently sit at the summit of the Primeira Liga standings with 56 points from 21 matches.
Next up for the 37-time Portuguese champions is a Vizela side against whom they are unbeaten in each of their previous five meetings, claiming four wins and one draw since January 2017.
Team News
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Vizela remain without the services of experienced midfielder Raphael Guzzo, who missed last Friday's trip to Gil Vicente after coming off with a first-half injury against Chaves on February 10.
In his absence, Osama Rashid was handed just his third league start of the season and we expect the 31-year-old to retain his place in the XI, teaming up with Claudemir at the centre of the park.
Benfica, on the other hand, will take to the pitch without Serbian defender Mihailo Ristic, who has missed the last four matches after coming off injured against Arouca in January.
Off the back of a dominant display against Boavista, Schmidt could name a similar side this weekend, with Ramos, Fredrik Aursnes and 30-year-old Joao Mario leading the attack.
Chiquinho has filled in brilliantly for the departed Enzo Fernandez and we expect the Portuguese midfielder to retain his role at the centre of the park, alongside Florentino Luis and Rafa Sliva.
Vizela possible starting lineup:
Buntic; Anderson, Wilson, Fernandes, Juliao; Rashid, Claudemir, Afonso; Moreira, Osmajic, Bondoso
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Luis, Chiquinho; Silva; Mario, Aursnes, Ramos
We say: Vizela 1-3 Benfica
While Vizela have shown resilience on home soil in recent weeks, they are in for a tough 90 minutes against a Benfica side who are on a roll. As Aguias are currently firing on all cylinders and given the gulf in quality and experience between the two sides, we are backing them to ease to their sixth consecutive league victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
