Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Primeira Liga clash between Nacional and Benfica, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Fresh off the back of an emphatic Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, Benfica return to action in the Primeira Liga when they visit the Estadio da Madeira to face Nacional on Sunday.
The Alvinegros head into the weekend without a win in any of their last 20 matches against the visiting side since December 2018 and will be looking to bring this poor run to an end.
Match preview
© Imago
Primeira Liga newcomers Nacional continue to struggle for results in the big league as they played out a goalless draw with Famalicao when the two sides squared off on Estadio Municipal de Famalicao.
While a total of 27 shots were fired at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao, neither goalkeeper would end up picking the ball out of the back of the net, with a draw being a fair result upon reflection.
Having secured promotion from the second tier via the playoff, Tiago Margarido’s men have failed to win six of their opening seven matches, losing four and claiming two draws while scoring four goals and conceding 12.
With just five points from the first 15 available, Nacional are currently bottom but one in the league table, level on points with Boavista and Estrela Amadora, but could move level with eighth-placed Moreirense with a win on Sunday.
© Imago
Benfica, on the other hand, turned in a performance of the highest quality in the Champions League on Wednesday when they thrashed Spanish giants Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Estadio da Luz.
In a one-sided affair, Karem Arturkoglu, Angel Di Maria, Alexander Bah and Orkun Kokcu all found the back of the net to fire the hosts to a resounding victory and condemn Atletico Madrid to their first defeat of the season.
This was in keeping with their solid run of results in the Primeira Liga, where Benfica are on a six-game unbeaten run, picking up five wins and one draw since a 2-0 defeat against Famalicao in August’s season opener.
Bruno Lage‘s men, who are on a run of five back-to-back wins across all competitions since the start of September, have picked up 16 points from their seven league matches to sit third in the standings, five points adrift of first-placed Sporting Lisbon.
Benfica will be backing themselves to keep the juggernaut rolling results this weekend as they take on an opposing side against whom they are unbeaten in each of their last 20 clashes, claiming 18 wins and two draws since December 2008.
Nacional Primeira Liga form:
Benfica Primeira Liga form:
Benfica form (all competitions):
Team News
© Imago
Nacional will take to the pitch without the duo of Brazilian forward Dudu, who is yet to feature this season after picking up a severe injury in the game against Mafra on May 19.
He is joined on the club’s injury table by the Portuguese duo of Dyego Sousa, who has missed each of the last two matches, and 20-year-old defender Chico Goncalves, who has been sidelined since August.
Following the Alvinegros’ solid defensive display against Famalicao last time out, we expect to see an unchanged back four of Gustavo Garcia, Leo Santos, Ze Vitor and Jose Gomes, with Lucas Franca starting between the sticks.
Meanwhile, Benfica remain without the services of Portuguese forward Tiago Gouveia, who has been out of action since coming off with a shoulder injury against Estrela on August 24.
Fellow countryman Renato Sanchez has missed the last five matches since sustaining a muscle problem against Moreirense on August 30 and the 27-year-old will also play no part in this weekend’s matchup.
Akturkoglu has enjoyed a super start to life in Benfica, and the Turkish forward, who has four goals and two assists in his first five games since joining from Galatasaray in the summer, will be one to keep an eye on.
Nacional possible starting lineup:
Franca; Garcia, Santos, Ze Vitor, Gomes; Soumare, Dias, Esteves; Appiah, Butzke, Thomas
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Aursnes, Luis; Di Maria, Kokcu, Akturkoglu; Pavlidis
We say: Nacional 0-4 Benfica
While Nacional will be looking to build on last weekend’s stalemate with Famalicao, they have their work cut out against a Benfica side who are currently firing on all cylinders. Given the gulf in quality and depth between the two teams, we are backing Lage’s men to come away with a comfortable victory at the Estadio da Madeira.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.