Benfica will travel to the Estádio do Vizela for the 22nd round of the Primeira Liga to face FC Vizela in search of their sixth consecutive victory.
Will Benfica be able to repeat their 2:1 win over FC Vizela in the reverse fixture, or will their Primeira Liga dominance come to an end?
Let's have a look at the latest Portuguese Primeira Liga predictions between FC Vizela vs Benfica, team news, probable lineups, match facts and up to date betting odds for you to consider!
Get Your Sign-Up Bonus!FC Vizela
Form: DDLWL
Tulipa was more than pleased with his team's tenacity and performance to avoid dropping points in their recent match against Gil Vicente on the road, as Christian Afonso scored for his team through a set piece in the 87th minute after they had fallen behind by a goal in the 55th minute, and this saw them end the day with a 1:1 draw.
However, the draw only serves to highlight the fact that the Vizelenses have now gone winless in all three of their most recent games, losing 2:0 on the road to FC Porto and being held to a scoreless draw by newly promoted Chaves at home.
At the Estádio do Vizela, the have been commanding as they have diligently safeguarded their territory, going four games without a loss in the Primeira Liga. Their momentum to record their fourth straight home victory, however, was halted by a scoreless draw against Chaves, and their chances of going five games without a loss may seem unlikely given the opponent they will lock horns with in this encounter.
They are currently vying for a mid-table spot, which would be a significant accomplishment on their part given their 14th-place finish in the previous season. However, the road ahead will undoubtedly be burdensome given that they are tied for points with Boavista, Chaves, and Portimonense. With 26 points, they are presently in 9th place.
Team News
In terms of injuries, Tulipa will have a healthy roster to choose from either than Raphael Guzzo who is still questionable going into this game.
Probable Starting XI
Formation: 4-3-3
Buntic; Anderson, Wilson, Fernandes, Juliao; Rashid, Claudemir, Afonso; Moreira, Osmajic, Bondoso
Benfica
Form: WWWWW
The Eagles have pushed the boundaries of grit and resolve in recent weeks, with each game they enter feeling more in control and putting out remarkable performances, and their recent match saw them record their fifth consecutive victory courtesy of a 3:1 victory over Boavista at home.
Goals from Gilberto, Ramos, and Musa in the second half ensured Roger Schmidt's team took all three points while retaining their remarkable record against Petit's men, extending their unbeaten home run against them to 19 games.
Being at the top of the table for the majority of the season has certainly become second nature to them, but looking over their shoulders is what they have to deal with the majority of the time as second-place FC Porto show no signs of slowing down in overthrowing them in their position, and collecting maximum points from now on will undoubtedly be a norm to them. They are currently in first place with 56 points.
Team News
Mihailo Ristic is the only player who will be unavailable for selection due to a hamstring injury sustained in a match against FC Arouca a month ago.
Probable Starting XI
Formation: 4-2-1-3
Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Luis, Chiquinho; Silva; Mario, Aursnes, Ramos
Match Facts
- FC Vizela is currently undefeated in five consecutive home games.
- Benfica are on a five-match winning streak in the Primeira Liga.
- The average number of goals scored in a match between FC Vizela and Benfica is 2.6.
- When playing at home, FC Vizela averages 1.12 goals per game, whereas Benfica averages 1.97 goals per game when playing away.
Head-To-Head
In the last five matches, Vizela has won 0 times, Benfica has won 4 times, and there have been 1 draws, with a goal difference of 10-3 in favour of Benfica.
Expert Betting Tips
While FC Vizela has undoubtedly struggled with consistency lately, they can take solace in the fact that they haven't lost in their last four home games, which has helped them maintain their stagnant home record. The Vizelenses will want to maintain that record against a Benfica team that has been in dominant form, which may prove to be an unrealistic expectation.
Benfica have kept a five-point lead over FC Porto in the standings, but that hasn't been enough to shake them off, and a win over FC Vizela will increase the point gap to eight points. Given that they won the reverse fixture against FC Vizela 2:1, the three points are definitely theirs to take once more.
For the initial pick, we'll be selecting FC Vizela's individual total to be over 0.5 to at least score against a team that has consistently employed a strong defensive line. This is because in their previous five meetings, they have scored in three of those games, and with home advantage at their disposal and their resilience, they are more than deserving of a goal.
- Total 1 - Over 0.5 for 1.72
- Goals - Over 2.5 for 1.63
- Both Teams To Score (Yes) for 1.95
Other predictions
