Benfica dey welcome Moreirense for Estadio da Luz on Saturday for important Primeira Liga clash. Di hosts dey fight to keep dia title hopes alive, while di visitors dey look to build momentum after finally ending difficult run of results.
With only four matches remaining, di Eagles dey pursue di league leaders despite earlier setbacks. Di visitors dey hope to stabilise dia position for mid-table after much-needed victory last time out.
Benfica step into dis fixture riding emotional high of dramatic victory over Sporting Lisbon for Derby de Lisboa. Rafa Silva appear for stoppage time to snatch 2-1 win, keeping dia title chase alive. Dat result follow composed 2-0 win over Nacional, and together, those victories don help steady di mood after frustration of 1-1 draw with Casa Pia, game where dem fail to take advantage of slip from Porto.
Dat victory over Sporting ensure Jose Mourinho side maintain dia remarkable unbeaten run for Primeira Liga, wey now stretch to 45 matches (W32, D13), showing dia consistency even if draws don prove costly. Benfica remain di only unbeaten side for di division dis season, but dia nine stalemates don make am difficult to close di gap at di top, leaving dem with little room for further slip-ups for di remaining fixtures as dem trail Porto by seven points with four matches left to play.
Dem go hope for no slip-ups at Estadio da Luz, where dia recent form don be exceptional, with seven wins from dia last eight home league matches, streak wey dem go be optimistic of extending against Moreirense wey dem never lose to for dia last five meetings. Benfica don win three of those matches while drawing two, including commanding 4-0 victory earlier dis season, performance and outcome wey dem go hope to replicate as dem look to keep dia winning run and slim title ambitions alive.
Moreirense, meanwhile, arrive for Lisbon with renewed confidence after ending lengthy winless streak with 1-0 victory over Estoril for dia last match. Dat result mark significant turnaround for Vasco Botelho da Costa side, wey don previously go seven games without win (3D, 4L), run wey don see dem slide away from European conversation and into mid-table battle.
Earlier struggles don largely be driven by defensive issues, with Moreirense conceding for 10 consecutive matches, while dem also fail to find di net for all four defeats within dat period. Di victory over Estoril not only halt dia slide but also provide much-needed clean sheet, addressing one of dia biggest weaknesses for recent weeks.
Di Green and whites fit need such defensive solidity once again if dem go leave Estadio da Luz with anything – though di last time dem get positive result from dis ground na 1-1 draw for 2022.
Benfica dey expected to get strong squad available, with Mourinho likely to retain di core of di side wey secure victory for dia last outing as dem look to build continuity. Long-term absentee Bruma (Achilles tendon) remain di only confirmed absentee, while defender Tomas Araujo dey questionable for dis clash. Vangelis Pavlidis go look to return to scoring ways, with di Greek forward, on 21 league goals, looking to lose down Sporting Luis Suarez, wey dey on 24 goals, for di Golden Boot race.
Moreirense also come into di match without Alvaro Martinez, Michel (muscle) and Vasco Sousa (leg) all sidelined with injuries. Defender Dinis Pinto dey nearing return from shoulder issue, but dis game fit come too early for di 25-year-old Portuguese.
Benfica possible starting lineup: Trubin; Dedic, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Aursnes; Prestianni, R. Silva, Schjelderup; Pavlidis. Moreirense possible starting lineup: Ferreira; Fabiano, Batista, Monteiro, Travassos; Assis, Stepanovic; Araujo, Rodri, Kiko; Alan.
Benfica strong home form and renewed momentum go give dem clear advantage for dis fixture, as dem go be too strong for Moreirense despite di visitors confidence from dia recent win. Facing one of di league most consistent sides away from home represent significant step up for di visiting side, and we expect di hosts to secure another important three points.
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