Benfica go welcome Vitoria de Guimaraes to Estadio da Luz for Primeira Liga clash. Reports put kick-off at 18:00, while one preview talk say 13:00 on Sunday 11 October. The match na chance for Benfica to bounce back after defeat to Porto before international break.
Benfica lost 3-1 to leaders Porto. Clement Lenglet got red card for 35th minute, Alexander Bah equalized for 51st minute, but Porto scored again three minutes later and another on the hour. The loss end Benfica 55-game unbeaten run in Primeira Liga and also stop eight-match winning streak across all competitions. That run include away win over AC Milan in Europa League league-phase opener, plus league wins over Casa Pia, Estoril Praia, Maritimo, Moreirense and Gil Vicente.
Different reports put Benfica table position. One talk say dem sit second and five points behind Porto. Another talk say dem sit fourth. All agree say dem no fit drop points at home. Vitoria de Guimaraes dey 14th, close to relegation zone. Tiago Margarido side get just one win in last five, beat Nacional 1-0 in late August. Dem draw against Moreirense and Casa Pia, and lose to Academico Viseu and Braga.
Vitoria scoring trouble clear. Only bottom two sides, Casa Pia and Estoril Praia, with three goals, don score fewer than Vitoria five strikes in league this season. Vitoria manage one victory across opening seven fixtures, with two draws and four losses. After losing first two games, Margarido record first competitive win as Vitoria boss against former team Nacional. Since then dem alternate between defeats and draws. Dem lose 1-0 to Braga and 2-1 to Academico Viseu, draw 0-0 with Casa Pia, and get 1-1 with Moreirense via Toni Borevkovic stoppage-time equaliser. Dem end winless run with 1-0 friendly win at Chaves during international break. But dem don lose each of last five league matches on road.
Head-to-head favour Benfica well well. Last meeting end 3-0 for Benfica at Estadio da Luz. Last 10 H2H games get eight Benfica victories and two draws. Previous seven H2H matches at Estadio da Luz feature six Benfica wins and one draw. Vitoria no beat Benfica in last five meetings, and Benfica concede just twice across all five. Benfica also win last four meetings, scoring exactly three goals in each of most recent three.
Team news: Benfica dey sweat on Georgiy Sudakov, who suffer right-ankle sprain while on international duty with Ukraine. Jakub Kamiński also sent home early from Poland camp after adductor injury. Alexander Bah doubtful after right-shoulder injury recurrence from Maritimo game. Enzo Barrenechea sidelined after surgery on left knee for medial meniscus tear. Clement Lenglet no go play as e serve suspension after red card against Porto, so Alessandro Circati fit get first start in defence since joining in summer. Vangelis Pavlidis expected lead line. Greek striker na top scorer in Primeira Liga with eight goals and just sign improved contract.
Vitoria expected without Alioune Ndoye, who dey serve second match of three-game suspension. Arnel Jakupovic and Patrick Ouotro among options for attacking positions. Gustavo Silva doubtful after right-thigh muscle injury early in draw with Moreirense. Oliwier Zych, Tony Strata, Matija Mitrovic and Lohann Doucet don return to training, alongside Beni Mukendi and Telmo Arcanjo. That one give Margarido fuller squad before trip to Estadio da Luz.
Confirmed lineups: Benfica 4-2-3-1 na Samuel Soares, Alexander Bah, Alessandro Circati, Tomas Araujo, Samuel Dahl, Leandro Barreiro, Joao Palhinha, Rafa Silva, Gianluca Prestianni, Andreas Schjelderup, Vangelis Pavlidis. Vitoria 4-2-3-1 na Oliwier Zych, Tony Strata, Toni Borevkovic, Thiago Balieiro, Joao Mendes, Lohann Doucet, Goncalo Nogueira, Miguel Nogueira, Samu, Oumar Camara, Arnel Jakupovic.
