Benfica dey set to host Braga for Estadio da Luz for their second-to-last match of 2025-26 Primeira Liga season, and this one na big one because victory go put them closer to Champions League qualification.
Porto don already win title, so second place na the only ticket to Europe elite competition. And right now, Benfica dey hold that spot because dem get better head-to-head record than third-placed Sporting Lisbon.
The Eagles come into this match after a frustrating 2-2 draw away to Famalicao last Saturday. Dem bin lead 2-0 through first-half goals from Andreas Schjelderup and Richard Rios, but Nicolas Otamendi red card for 55th minute change everything, and the hosts fight back to equalise.
That result cut Benfica’s two-point lead over Sporting to just a head-to-head advantage. But e still end the Eagles’ three-match winning streak, though dem remain unbeaten for their last 47 Primeira Liga games (37 wins, 10 draws), a run wey start last season.
Benfica don dey impress for attack, scoring two or more goals for 11 of their last 12 league matches. Only Sporting get more goals (82) than Benfica (69) for the division this season. And at home, dem don score multiple goals for each of their last five league games, winning four of them.
Braga, on the other hand, come from a painful 3-1 defeat to Freiburg for Europa League, where Mario Dorgeles get early red card and dem lose 4-3 on aggregate. That result mean Braga no win for two matches now, after a 1-1 draw with Estoril Praia for league.
Despite that, Braga still dey firmly for fourth place, five points clear of fifth-placed Famalicao. A draw here go mathematically secure top-four finish because dem get superior head-to-head record over the Vila Nova outfit.
The Archbishops don be resilient for road this season, avoiding defeat for 12 of their 16 away league matches (8 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses). And dem go take confidence from their recent record against Benfica, losing none of the last three Primeira Liga meetings (2 wins, 1 draw), including a 2-2 draw for the reverse fixture.
For Benfica, Tomas Araujo don miss last two matches with muscle problem, and Joao Veloso still out with shoulder injury. Otamendi suspension force reshuffle for defence, with Tomás Araújo expected to partner António Silva. Richard Rios also unavailable because e reach nine yellow cards, so Enzo Barrenechea go likely partner Fredrik Aursnes for midfield.
Vangelis Pavlidis, wey score 21 league goals this season, fit return to starting lineup after e bin dey unused substitute last time out. Franjo Ivanovic go likely drop out.
For Braga, captain Ricardo Horta return to squad as unused substitute against Freiburg after injury and fit start here. But dem still dey without Diego Rodrigues, Bright Arrey-Mbi, Adrian Barisic, Florian Grillitsch and Sikou Niakate.
Benfica possible starting lineup: Trubin; Dedic, A Silva, Barrenechea, Dahl; M Silva, Aursnes; Schjelderup, Barreiro, Prestianni; Pavlidis.
Braga possible starting lineup: Hornicek; Lagerbielke, V Carvalho, Oliveira; Martinez, Moutinho, Tiknaz, Gorby, V Gomez; Zalazar, Horta.
Meetings between these sides never easy for Benfica for recent years, but the Eagles enter with advantage of fresher legs after full week of rest, unlike Braga wey come from draining European trip to Germany. The visitors don show inconsistency for recent weeks, and while dem get quality to make things difficult, Benfica attacking strength for da Luz go help them edge a narrow but crucial victory.
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