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Primeira Liga | Gameweek 20
Jan 26, 2023 at 8.15pm UK
Estádio da Capital do Móvel
B

Pacos de Ferreira
0 - 2
Benfica

 
FT(HT: 0-2)
Grimaldo (7'), Mario (11')
Guedes (37'), Luis (71')

Preview: Pacos de Ferreira vs. Benfica - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Pacos de Ferreira vs. Benfica - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Thursday's Primeira Liga clash between Pacos de Ferreira and Benfica, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Table-toppers Benfica make the trip to the Estadio da Mata Real to face basement club Pacos de Ferreira in the Primeira Liga on Thursday night.

While the visitors have lost only one of their 18 games on the road so far this season, the hosts are seeking to avoid an 11th successive game without a win on home soil.


Match preview

Pacos de Ferreira finally picked up their first league victory of the 2022-23 campaign when they won 1-0 away at Rio Ave just under two weeks ago, but they were unable to come out on top for a second successive game as they were beaten 2-1 at home against Braga last weekend.

Scottish midfielder Jordan Holsgrove restored parity for the Beavers with a stunning strike after Vitinha had opened the scoring just before the hour mark, but the visitors snatched all three points in the 90th minute courtesy of a composed finish from Simon Banza.

Cesar Peixoto has picked up four points from his first three games as Pacos de Ferreira boss after taking the reins on January 2, but his new side remain rooted to the foot of the table and are 12 points adrift from safety at the halfway stage.

Pacos de Ferreira, who finished fifth in the Primeira Liga just two seasons ago, will be seeking revenge when they play host to Benfica after losing 3-2 against the Eagles in the reverse fixture back in August.

After ending 2022 with a disappointing 3-0 defeat away against Braga, Benfica have since won three and drawn one of their first four games this year, including last weekend's 3-0 victory against Santa Clara.

Fredrik Aursnes and Goncalo Ramos both found the net within the first 16 minutes before January loan signing Goncalo Guedes came off the bench to score on his second debut for the club 10 minutes from time – netting his first goal for the Eagles since 2017 to wrap up all three points.

Roger Schmidt's men, who are bidding to win their first Primeira Liga title in four years, still hold a four-point lead over their nearest challengers Braga in second place, while current holders Porto and Sporting Lisbon sit further back in third and fourth spot respectively.

Benfica's clash with Pacos de Ferreira on Thursday is the second of five away matches across a period of six fixtures in all competitions, but the Eagles will be confident of success on their travels, as they have won each of their last 11 meetings with the Beavers, scoring 32 goals in the process and at least twice on each occasion.

Pacos de Ferreira Primeira Liga form:


Pacos de Ferreira form (all competitions):


Benfica Primeira Liga form:


Benfica form (all competitions):



Team News

Pacos de Ferreira centre-back Maracas is suspended after receiving a straight red card in the dying embers of Saturday's defeat to Braga, so Pedro Ganchas is the most likely candidate to start alongside Nuno Lima.

Left-back Antunes and attacking midfielder Matchoi Djalo are both available to return from suspension and will be in contention to start on Thursday.

With Abbas Ibrahim set to miss out again through injury, Holsgrove may retain his place in centre-midfield alongside Rui Pires and Carlos, while former Benfica ban Nicolas Gaitan could start again on the right flank.

As for Benfica, key playmaker Rafa missed the win over Santa Clara due to a muscle problem and he is not expected to recover in time for Thursday's contest.

Aursnes, Julian Draxler and Joao Mario all roamed in the final third behind central striker Ramos last time out, and the same attacking quartet are set to remain in Schmidt's starting lineup, while in-demand midfielder Enzo Fernandez is expected to keep his place along with Florentino Luis.

Experienced defender and World Cup winner Nicolas Otamendi is available to return after serving a one-match ban, and the Argentine will likely replace Morato in the first XI.

Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Marafona; Delgado, Lima, Ganchas, Antunes; Pires, Holsgrove, Carlos; Gaitan, A. Guedes, Uilton

Benfica possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Bah, Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Luis, Fernandez, Aursnes; Mario, Draxler, Ramos


We say: Pacos de Ferreira 0-3 Benfica

Benfica will be regarded as strong favourites to secure maximum points at the Estadio da Mata Real and will likely have more joy in the final third against their struggling counterparts.

Pacos de Ferreira caused a few problems for the Eagles in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but they may struggle to breach their backline on this occasion.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sporting Lisbon1111003953433
2Porto119022882027
3Benfica108112872125
4Santa ClaraSanta Clara117041412221
5Braga116231911820
6Vitoria de GuimaraesGuimaraes115331211118
7FamalicaoFamalicao11452129317
8MoreirenseMoreirense115241514117
9Casa Pia113441014-413
10Rio AveRio Ave113351020-1012
11Gil Vicente112451419-510
12Estoril PraiaEstoril11245816-810
13AVS11245919-1010
14BoavistaBoavista11236715-89
15Estrela Amadora112361020-109
16Nacional10226615-98
17AroucaArouca11227619-138
18SC FarenseFarense11128518-135
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