Benfica VS FC Famalicao, home find an important win

Match Time：2/9/2021 03:00 Tuesday  (GMT+8)

Portugal Primera Liga --  Benfica   VS   FC Famalicao

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Benfica will be on the hunt for their first win in five Primeira Liga games on Monday, when they welcome Famalicao to the Estadio da Luz.  

 

Their recent run has seen the Portuguese giants fall to fourth in the Primeira Liga table, sitting 11 points behind league leaders Sporting Lisbon.  

 

Match preview

Benfica's disappointing run of form has seen them collect just three points from their last four league games, falling behind Braga as a result, while they have also lost ground on Portugal's top two sides.   

 

Meanwhile, Jorge Jesus's side are now level on points with fifth-placed Pacos de Ferreira, who have enjoyed a quick rise up the table, having won their last six league matches.  

 

Last time out, As Aguias were held to a 0-0 draw by Vitoria de Guimaraes, in a game where Jesus's men dominated, but could not find an important winning goal.  

 

That followed a narrow 1-0 loss away at leaders Sporting Lisbon, with the game looking set to finish 0-0 until Matheus Nunes snatched all three points for the hosts with a goal in added time.  

 

Although their league form has been concerning, the 37-time Primeira Liga champions will be encouraged by their recent cup victory, when they secured their place in the final four of the Taca de Portugal with a convincing 3-0 win over Belenenses.  

 

Darwin Nunez, Rafa Silva and Franco Cervi all got on the scoresheet in a strong Benfica performance, which should give them confidence going into Monday's game, when they take on another side struggling at the bottom of the Primeira Liga.  

 

Famalicao come into this game with the hope of escaping the division's relegation zone, currently sitting 17th.   

 

Although they occupy a spot in the bottom two, they do remain only one point adrift of automatic safety, with 15th-placed Portimonense within touching distance for Silas's side.  

 

Despite that, Fama come into this game in a worrying patch of form, having lost six of their last seven Primeira Liga matches.  

 

That run has seen them fall into the automatic relegation zone, a noticeable regression from last season, when they finished sixth in the top flight in their first season following promotion from the Segunda Liga. 

 

Joao Pedro Sousa, who took the side so close to European qualification last season, failed to repeat those heroics this campaign, and he was sacked at the end of January.  

 

The Famalicao board then made the decision to bring in former Sporting Lisbon manager Silas, in an attempt to avoid relegation back to the second tier.  Last time out, in Silas's first game in charge, they fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Moreirense, after Riccieli scored an own goal, followed by a Yan strike before half time.  

 

The Portuguese manager will be hoping that his side can turn their form around with a win in this game, which could see them move out of the automatic relegation zone.  

 

Benfica Primeira Liga form: DWDDLD 

Benfica form (all competitions): DLDWLD  

Famalicao Primeira Liga form: LLWLLL  

 

Team News  

Benfica have been boosted in the last two games by the return of Nicolas Otamendi, who previously spent time out of the squad with COVID-19. The Argentinian has been a crucial part of one of the Primeira Liga's best defences this season, alongside the experienced Jan Vertonghen.  

 

However, they do still have issues at the back, with Jardel unavailable through injury, joining full-back Andre Almeida, who remains out of contention with a ligament rupture, on the sidelines.  

 

Jesus did take action to add to his defensive ranks by bringing in Lucas Verissimo, who joined in a January transfer from Brazilian club Santos.  

Worryingly for the hosts, they are expected to remain without attacker Luca Waldschmidt, who has missed their last two matches with an injury. The German has starred for As Aguias so far this campaign, recording six goals and two assists in the league.  

 

They could also be missing creative midfielder Rafa Silva, who missed the Vitoria match with a knee issue, with forward Darwin Nunez likely to come back into the starting team to boost their attacking threat.  

 

Silas should have a full squad to pick from, apart from injured attacker Leonardo Campana, who has only featured six times for Famalicao in league action this season.  Manuel Ugarte will start in the engine room again for the visitors, after Famalicao broke their transfer record to bring the young midfielder in from CA Fenix in the January transfer window.  

 

They have had to deal with a major loss in January, with attacking midfielder Ruben Lameiras moving to Vitoria, while they received forward Alexandre Guedes on loan in that deal.  

 

The visitors will also be without forward Jhonata Robert, after the Brazilian was shown a red card late on in the recent loss to Moreirense.  

 

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Otamendi, Vertonghen, Grimaldo; Everton, Weigl, Taarabt, Pizzi; Nunez, Seferovic  

 

Famalicao possible starting lineup: 

Junior; Figueiras, Junior, Patrick, Babic, Vinagre; Lukovic, Ugarte, Kraev; Anderson, Guedes    

 

Benfica 1-0 Famalicao