Benfica VS Santa Clara, looking to tighten their grip on third place

Match Time：4/27/2021 02:00 Tuesday  (GMT+8)

Portugal Primeira Liga --  Benfica   VS   Santa Clara

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Benfica will be looking to tighten their grip on third place in the Primeira Liga when they host Santa Clara on Monday evening.

 

The Eagles have won seven of their last eight league games, while their opponents have won only one of their last five.

 

Match preview

 

After suffering a shock 2-1 home loss to Gil Vicente last week, bringing an end to their 10-game unbeaten run, it was important Benfica responded against Portimonense on Thursday.

 

Jorge Jesus's side were comfortable 5-1 winners at Estadio Municipal de Portimao, despite trailing to a Beto goal shortly before half time.

 

That victory showed the defeat to Gil Vicente was merely a blimp for third-placed Benfica, though it was a costly one as it all but ended their slim title hopes.

 

The Eagles are 10 points behind leaders Sporting Lisbon and six adrift of Porto, but their immediate priority is holding off fourth-placed Sporting Braga, who are two points behind.

 

Benfica have won 12 of their last 16 home matches, although they are still yet to host Sporting and Porto at Estadio da Luz. Win those two games, of course, and Jesus's side may yet be in the title mix.

 

Santa Clara's recent form does not point towards an upset being on the cards here, the Azoreans having lost four away games in a row.

 

Daniel Ramos's charges followed up the most recent of those losses - a 1-0 reverse at Vitoria Guimaraes - with a goalless home draw against Moreirense on Wednesday.

 

That leaves the visitors seventh in the Primeira Liga standings, two points off a qualifying spot for the newly-formed Europa Conference League.

 

Benfica do not have the best of recent records against Santa Clara, meanwhile, having lost 4-3 in this corresponding fixture last year, while also being held 1-1 in the most recent encounter three months ago.

 

Benfica Primeira Liga form: WWWWLW

Santa Clara Primeira Liga form: WDLWLD

 

Team News

 

Gabriel Pires received an early booking in the win against Portimonense and will serve a one-match ban for this visit of Santa Clara.

 

That will likely mean Julian Weigl filling in alongside Adel Taarabt in central midfield, while Darwin Nunez is another pushing for inclusion.

 

Joao Ferreira, Andre Almeida and Andreas Samaris are the home side's only known injury absentees.

 

As for Santa Clara, they are without the injured Julio Romao and the suspended Fabio Cardoso, who misses out through an accumulation of yellow cards.

 

Joao Afonso is expected to get the nod in central defence, where he will partner Mikel Villanueva.

 

In terms of other possible changes Ramos could make, Rui Costa may be considered for a starting role after Crysan fired a blank in the goalless draw with Moreirense.

 

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Leite; Verissimo, Otamendi, Vertonghen; Goncalves, Pizzi, Weigl, Grimaldo; Nunez, Seferovic, Rafa

 

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Pereira; Ramos, Villanueva, Afonso, Mansur; Lincoln, Carvalho, Nene; Junior, Costa, Allano

 

Benfica 2-1 Santa Clara