Benfica will visit Conengos this weekend in their pursuit of a crucial victory against Moreirense. The team is focused on regaining momentum in the Primeira Liga title race after a mixed start to the season. Last week, Benfica managed a solid win against Napoli in the Champions League, emerging victorious with a 2-0 scoreline. However, their domestic performance faltered recently, as they drew 1-1 against Sporting Lisbon, leaving them eight points behind Porto in the league standings.
Match Preview: Moreirense vs Benfica
The match promises to be a significant challenge for Moreirense, who have recently experienced a downturn in form after a strong start. Originally, they won their first four home games but succumbed to a 2-1 loss against Porto, followed by a 2-2 draw with Famalicao. Currently sitting in seventh place with 18 points, Moreirense has struggled to keep pace, winning just once in their last six league outings (D2, L3) and failing to secure three points in three consecutive matches.
Key Statistics
- Benfica’s Current League Position: 3rd
- Points Behind Porto: 8
- Moreirense’s Recent League Form: W6, D2, L5
- Last Meeting at Conengos: Unbeaten streak for Moreirense in home fixtures against Benfica (D3, L11)
Team News
Moreirense will likely be missing players Lawrence Ofori (abductor) and Yan Maranhao, who continues to recover from discomfort. Joel Jorquera is also unavailable due to injury. Defender Maracas is set to return from suspension, while midfielder Alanzinho will miss the match due to a one-match ban for accumulating bookings. Despite a struggle lately, Luis Semedo showed promise in the recent match against Estoril and will be crucial for Moreirense.
On the other hand, Benfica will start with Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who leads their scoring charts with 10 league goals. Unfortunately, they will be without Bruma (Achilles tendon), Alexander Bah (cruciate ligament tear), Dodi Lukebakio (ankle), and Henrique Araujo (muscle injury). Gianluca Prestianni is also unavailable as he serves a suspension after receiving a red card last weekend.
Possible Lineups
| Moreirense | Ferreira; Pinto, Maracas, Michel, Kiko; V Sousa, Stjepanovic, Benny; Travassos, Schettine, Araujo |
|---|---|
| Benfica | Trubin; Dahl, Otamendi, A Silva, Dedic; Rios, Barrenechea; Aursnes, Barriero, Sudakov; Pavlidis |
Predictions
Given their strong record on the road, Benfica remains the favorite to win. Despite the challenges faced by Moreirense, they will aim to challenge the Eagles, aiming for a positive result. However, our prediction leans towards a narrow 2-1 victory for Benfica based on their superior away form and historical success against Moreirense in previous encounters.
