Preview:Alverca vs Benfica - prediction, team news, lineups

Following a successful continental outing in midweek, Benfica make the trip to newly promoted Alverca for Sunday’s matchday four Primeira Liga encounter.

The Eagles secured a place in the Champions League proper after overcoming Fernabahce in Lisbon on Wednesday and now turn their attention back to domestic matters against a team who only just collected their first point of the top-flight campaign.

Match preview

A Kerem Akturkoglu strike in the 39th minute at Estadio da Luz proved decisive in a cagey two-legged tie, with Bruno Lage’s men advancing to the main stage of UEFA’s elite competition for a fifth consecutive season courtesy of a slender 1-0 aggregate victory.

The Portuguese giants have since been drawn against Real Madrid, Chelsea, Juventus, Newcastle United and Napoli among their eight opponents in the tournament.

Wednesday’s triumph over Fernabahce means Benfica remain unbeaten and are yet to concede in any of their seven competitive outings this term, during which they have collected six wins and found the net on 10 occasions.

The Reds head into Sunday’s clash eager to maintain that momentum in the Primeira Liga, having edged Estrela with a lone goal before easing past newly promoted Tondela last weekend in a comfortable 3-0 success.

Despite their opener against Rio Ave being postponed, Benfica’s six points from two games have them sitting sixth in the table as they chase another win to climb higher in their bid to reclaim the crown after finishing behind city rivals Sporting Lisbon in the past two seasons.

Alverca earned their place in the top flight after finishing as runners-up in the 2024-25 Liga 2, marking their long-awaited return after more than two decades away.

Custodio Castro’s men picked up their first point of the campaign in a 2-2 draw at Estrela Amadora last weekend, but the coach will rue the manner of the result as his side surrendered a two-goal advantage in a contest where both teams finished with 10 men.

That solitary point leaves Alverca 14th after three rounds, with three goals scored and seven conceded, and the challenge of improving their position this weekend appears daunting given their history against Benfica.

The Vila Franca de Xira outfit have lost their last four meetings with the Eagles, failing to score in the two most recent, including a 3-0 defeat the last time these sides met at Alverca do Ribatejo back in 2003.

If their home record is anything to go by, the hosts can take heart from losing just once in their last 13 competitive outings on their own turf, though Alverca’s only top-flight fixture in that run ended in a 3-0 loss to Braga.

Alverca Primeira Liga form:

Alverca form (all competitions):

Benfica Primeira Liga form:

Benfica form (all competitions):

Team News

Alverca will be without goalkeeper Andre Gomes against his parent club, paving the way for Matheus Mendes to make his debut between the sticks.

Kaiky Naves is also suspended following his dismissal last weekend, leaving Julan Martínez in line to step into the three-man defence.

Marko Milovanovic, who has struck twice already this season, is expected to spearhead the attack once again after finding the net against Estrela.

Tomas Araujo was rested in midweek and should return to the starting XI here, as will Anatoliy Trubin, who is set to reclaim his spot in Benfica’s goal.

Vangelis Pavlidis should continue to lead the line, although Lage may be tempted to partner him with a second striker, with Franjo Ivanovic the most likely candidate.

The Eagles remain without Bruma, Manu Silva and Alexander Bah, all of whom continue their recovery from injury.

Alverca possible starting lineup:

Mendes; Meupiyou, Gomez, , Martinez; James, Amorim, Mendes, Touaizi; Nuozzi, Milovanovic, Chiquinho

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Trubin; Dahl, Araujo, Otamendi, Dedic; Barrenechea; Schjelderup, Rios, Aursnes; Ivanovic, Pavlidis

We say: Alverca 0-3 Benfica

Despite having less rest time than their hosts, Benfica’s depth and quality should prove decisive, and anything short of a comfortable victory would represent one of the shocks of the weekend.

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