Reigning Portuguese champions Benfica will look to boost their title chances as they welcome relegation-threatened Vizela to the Estadio da Luz.
Benfica is enjoying a long unbeaten runA 2-1 win over Toulouse in the Europa League last time out made the Eagles 19 games unbeaten in all competitions.
Roger Schmidt’s team is also unbeaten in their last 20 matches in the Portuguese top-flight. However, last time out in the Primeira Liga, Vitoria Guimaraes held them to a 2-2 draw.
The match saw a seven-game winning run end in the Primeira Liga. Benfica stayed at the top of the table, but arch-rivals Sporting CP now have a slight advantage in the title race, as they are level with the champions but also have a game in hand.
Benfica has a strong recent record in the Portuguese top-flight on home soil, as they are unbeaten in 13 matches at the Estadio da Luz, having recorded 11 wins and two draws.
Vizela boosted their survival chances last time outThe visitors are currently in 17th place in the Primeira Liga, four points adrift of the relegation play-off spot and another adrift of the safety of 15th place.
They seemed to be suffering relegation without much of a fight until last week when they recorded a 1-0 win at Gil Vicente. The victory ended a ten-game winless run in the Portuguese top-flight, including a four-match losing streak.
The win at Gil Vicente ended a four-match winless run on their travels in the Primeira Liga. It was another low-scoring game on their travels, though, as five of their previous seven matches have produced under 2.5 goals.
What am I backing?Benfica are no longer in control of the title race, so they can’t afford to slip up in this clash, while Vizela is still desperate to escape the bottom three. The bet I am backing is the home win.
