Preview: Benfica vs. Portimonense - prediction, team news, lineups

Fresh off the back of a rare victory over Spanish giants Barcelona, Benfica welcome Portimonense to the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the visitors played out an uneventful goalless draw against Vizela last time out and will be aiming to return to winning ways and move into the top six in the Primeira Liga table.

Match preview

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Benfica picked up their first win in Group E of the Champions League when they stunned La Liga powerhouses Barcelona to a 3-0 win in Portugal last Wednesday.

The game was off to a flyer when Darwin Nunez opened the scoring after just two minutes, and after Rafa Silva doubled the lead in the 69th minute, Nunez completed the rout with his second strike of the game to cap off a stellar individual performance.

That dominant display was in keeping with their solid run of results domestically, where they maintained their 100% record in the Portuguese top-flight last Saturday courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Vitoria de Guimaraes.

They currently lead the way in the league standings, with a four-point cushion on second-place Porto, and this fine start has been down to a solid job at both ends of the pitch as they boast the league's best attacking record with 19 goals while conceding just four to date.

Benfica head into Sunday's game unbeaten in their most recent 18 matches across all competitions, picking up 15 wins and three draws since a 2-0 loss against Braga in May's Taca de Portugal final.

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Portimonense, on the other hand, were denied a second consecutive victory last time out when they were held to a goalless draw by Vizela.

This followed a 2-1 victory over Santa Clara at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao, where Wilinton Aponza and Lucas Fernandes scored either side of Rui Costa's equaliser to end their two-game winless run.

Portimonense, who are currently sixth in the table, have struggled to get going in attack, but their defensive sturdiness has played a major role in their fine start to the season as they have picked up three clean sheets and allowed just four goals in their opening seven games.

While Paulo Sergio will hope his side can keep the ball rolling, next up is a rampant Benfica side who are unbeaten in the last five meetings between the sides, picking up four draws and one draw since a 2-0 loss back in 2019.

Team News

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Jorge Jesus will be unable to call upon the services of Portuguese forward Diogo Goncalves, who sustained an injury in the game against Boavista two weeks back.

While Harris Seferovic is nearing a return to full fitness, he remains out of contention for Benfica after picking up an injury while on international duty with Switzerland.

Mile Svilar, who last featured for Serbia versus Qatar on August 1, is also recuperating from an injury, while major doubts are cast over Valentino Lazaro, who was hauled off injured on the stroke of half time against Barcelona last time out.

In the absence of the Inter Milan loanee, Brazilian defender Gilberto could come in for his third starting appearance of the campaign.

With his two strikes last time out, Darwin Nunez has taken his tally to six for the season across all competitions, and we expect the Uruguayan forward to once again handle business in attack this weekend.

Fabricio returned to action as a substitute last weekend for the first time since picking up a knee injury against Vitoria de Guimaraes in the league curtain-raiser back in August and the Portimonense forward could be thrown into the starting XI on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Shoya Nakajima still awaits his first appearance for the club as the Porto loanee continues his spell on the sidelines through injury.

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Vlachodimos; Otamendi, Vertonghen, Morato; Gilberto, Mario, Weigl, Grimaldo; Pizzi, Yaremchuk, Nunez

Portimonense possible starting lineup:

Samuel; Moufi, Rocha, Pedrao, Cande; Oliveira, Fernandes, Carlinhos, Ewerton; Aponza, Fabricio

We say: Benfica 2-0 Portimonense

Despite their impressive league position, Portimonense have struggled to put together a fine run of form this season due to a lock of firepower in attack. They take on a free-scoring Benfica side, who head into the game in sky-high confidence following their victory over Barcelona. We are tipping Benfica to claim a comfortable win and continue their early charge for the title.