Preview: Estoril Praia vs Benfica – prediction, team news, lineups

Benfica journey to face Estoril Praia on the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday for the ultimate spherical of the 2025-26 Primeira Liga season, understanding victory is crucial to maintain their Champions League qualification hopes alive.

Back-to-again attracts have seen the Eagles slip to 3rd within the Portuguese top-flight tableleaving them two factors behind second-positioned Sporting Lisbon, whereas the ninth-positioned Canaries are clinging onto a high-half end solely on head-to-head and purpose distinction over the perimeters instantly beneath them.

Match preview

a dramatic Lisbon Derby victory on matchday 30 had briefly reignited Benfica’s hopes of a high-two end, because the Eagles overtook Sporting into second place earlier than backing it up with an emphatic win over Moreirense.

However, Jose Mourinho‘s aspect at the moment are again in third after consecutive 2-2 attracts in opposition to Famalicao and Braga, the latter coming at Estadio da Luz on Monday, the place Vangelis Pavlidis’ stoppage-time penalty rescued some extent.

That end result was one other setback in Benfica’s bid for a fourth consecutive high-two end, taking their joint league-excessive attracts to 11, although it additionally stretched the Eagles’ unbeaten Primeira Liga run to 48 matches (W37, D11), courting again to final season.

The Reds have scored two or extra targets in 12 of their final 13 league matches, underlining their attacking energy, though defensively they’ve been much less convincing, protecting simply two clear sheets throughout their final 10 outings.

This may be a defining match for Mourinho, with hypothesis surrounding a possible return to Real Madrid persevering with to develop, and failure to safe a high-two end would depart his second spell on the membership wanting underwhelming, particularly given exits from the Champions League, Taca de Portugal and Taca da Liga.

Still, Benfica stay in a powerful place away from residence, having gained 11 of their 16 league matches on the highway this season (D5), with solely Porto (14) and Sporting (12) recording extra away victories.

Estoril, in the meantime, are already protected from relegation, sitting 10 factors above the playoff spot, whereas European qualification is out of attain, with Ian Cathro‘s aspect 14 factors off the highest 5, so their focus now turns to securing a second successive high-half end after ending final season in eighth place.

However, the Canaries are with no win in seven matches (D2, L5) – the longest ongoing winless run within the division – having adopted their draw at Braga with one other 1-1 stalemate at Alverca final weekend, when Andre Lacximicant scored an equalizer simply two minutes after approaching as a half-time substitute.

Estoril have now conceded first in every of their final 5 matches and have shipped 54 league targets general — probably the most amongst groups within the high half — whereas their assault has slowed considerably, netting simply seven occasions throughout their final 10 video games.

Home type can be a priority for the Canaries, who’ve suffered defeat in every of their final three matches at Coimbra da Mota and are winless in 4 outings on the floor (D1, L3), a report that doesn’t bode properly, particularly contemplating the Cascais membership have additionally misplaced their final eight league conferences with Benfica.

Estoril Praia Primeira Liga type:

Benfica Primeira Liga type:

Team News

© Imago

Benfica have a close to absolutely match squad and are boosted by the return of captain Nicolas Otamendi and midfielder Richard Rios, each again from suspension.

Pavlidis may return to guide the assault after scoring a stoppage-time penalty final day out, taking his league tally to 22 targets, 5 behind Sporting’s Luis Suarez within the race for the Bola de Prata.

For Estoril, Yanis Begraoui, who has scored 20 league targets this season, will once more lead the road and can look to get again to scoring methods, having drawn a clean final day out.

Defenders Antef Tsoungui and Pedro Carvalho are suspended, though Kevin Boma returns from damage and may strengthen the again line.

Meanwhile, midfielder Jandro Orellana stays a doubt after lacking latest squads, whereas Joel Robles is anticipated to proceed in purpose.

Estoril Praia attainable beginning lineup:

Oaks; Ferro, Bacher, Boma; Sanchez, Xeka, Holsgrove, G Costa; Guitane, Begraoui, Carvalho

Benfica attainable beginning lineup:

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

We say: Estoril Praia 1-3 Benfica

Benfica have extra driving on this encounter, as failure to safe most factors would additional dent their slim hopes of ending second, and they’re going to even be boosted by the return of Otamendi and Rios.

Meanwhile, Estoril shall be lacking two gamers in protection, additional depleting a aspect that has been struggling in latest occasions, so victory for the guests appears to be like doubtless right here.

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