Preview: Benfica vs Moreirense – prediction, team news, lineups

Benfica welcome Moreirense to the Estadio da Luz on Saturday for an necessary Primeira Liga encounter, with the hosts aiming to maintain their title hopes alive whereas the guests look to construct momentum after lastly ending a troublesome run of outcomes.

With solely 4 matches remaining, the Eagles stay in pursuit of the league leaders regardless of earlier setbacks, whereas the guests are hoping to stabilize their place in mid-desk after a a lot-wanted victory final outing.

Match preview

Benfica step into this fixture using the emotional excessive of a dramatic victory over Sporting Lisbon within the Lisbon Derby – simply when it appeared the sport would drift away from them for one more stalemate, Rafa Silva appeared in stoppage time to snatch a 2-1 winmaintaining their title chase alive.

It was a end result that adopted a composed 2-0 win over Nacional, and collectively, these victories have helped regular the temper after the frustration of a 1-1 draw with Casa Pia, a recreation the place they did not benefit from a slip from Porto.

That victory over Sporting ensured Jose Mourinho‘s facet maintained their outstanding unbeaten run within the Primeira Liga, which now stretches to 45 matches (W32, D13), exhibiting their consistency even when attracts have confirmed pricey.

Benfica stay the one unbeaten facet within the division this season, however their 9 stalemates have made it troublesome to shut the hole on the high, leaving them with little room for additional slip-ups within the remaining fixtures as they path Porto by seven factors with 4 matches left to play.

They will hope for no slip-ups at Estadio da Luz, the place their latest kind has been distinctive, with seven wins from their final eight residence league matches, a streak they are going to be optimistic of extending in opposition to a Moreirense that they haven’t misplaced to of their final 5 conferences.

Benfica have received three of these matches whereas drawing two, together with a commanding 4-0 victory earlier this season, a efficiency and consequence they may hope to duplicate as they appear to maintain their successful run and slim title ambitions alive.

Moreirense, in the meantime, arrive in Lisbon with renewed confidence after ending a prolonged winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Estoril of their final match.

That end result marked a major turnaround for Vasco Botelho da Costa‘s facet, who had beforehand gone seven video games with no win (3D, 4L), a run that had seen them slide away from the European dialog and right into a mid-desk battle.

Earlier struggles had been largely pushed by defensive points, with Moreirense conceding in 10 consecutive matches, whereas additionally they failed to seek out the online in all 4 defeats inside that interval.

The victory over Estoril not solely halted their slide but in addition offered a a lot-wanted clear sheet, addressing one among their largest weaknesses in latest weeks.

The Green and whites may have such defensive solidity as soon as once more if they’re to depart Estadio da Luz with something – though the final time they received a optimistic end result from this floor was a 1-1 attract 2022.

Benfica Primeira Liga kind:

Moreirense Primeira Liga kind:

Team News

© Imago / Avant Sports

Benfica are anticipated to have a robust squad obtainable, with Mourinho prone to retain the core of the facet that secured victory of their final outing as they appear to construct continuity.

Long-term absentee Bruma (Achilles tendon) stays the one confirmed absentee, whereas defender Tomas Araujo is questionable for this conflict.

Vangelis Pavlidis will look to return to scoring methods, with the Greek ahead, on 21 league objectives, trying to lose down Sporting’s Luis Suarez, who’s on 24 objectives, within the Golden Boot race.

Moreirense additionally comes into the match with out Alvaro Martinez, Michel (muscle) and Vasco Sousa (leg) all sidelined with accidents.

Defending Dinis Pinto is near a return from a shoulder subject, however this recreation might come too early for the 25-12 months-outdated Portuguese.

Benfica potential beginning lineup:

Trubin; Dedic, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Aursnes; Prestianni, R. Silva, Schjelderup; Pavlidis

Moreirense potential beginning lineup:

Ferreira; Fabiano, Batista, Monteiro, Travassos; Assis, Stepanovic; Araujo, Rodri, Kiko; Alan

We say: Benfica 2-0 Moreirense

Benfica’s sturdy residence kind and renewed momentum ought to give them a transparent benefit on this fixture, as they are going to be too sturdy for Moreirense regardless of the guests’ confidence from their latest win.

Facing one of many league’s most constant sides away from residence represents a major step up for the visiting facet, and we anticipate the hosts to safe one other necessary three factors.

For information evaluation of the probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.