Seeking to make it four wins from their opening four games of the new Primeira Liga campaign, Benfica play host to Pacos de Ferreira on Tuesday.
The Pacenses visit the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica as one of just two sides yet to pick up any points from their first three games this season and will be desperate to end this underwhelming run.
Match preview
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Benfica returned to action in the Primeira Liga last Sunday when they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Boavista when the sides met at the Estadio do Bessa.
Brazilian defender Felipe Morato opened his account for the season on the half-hour mark to put the visitors ahead before Joao Mario scored a second-half brace to cap off a solid team display.
Prior to that, As Aguias secured European football as they saw off Dynamo Kiev 3-0 in the second leg of their Champions League playoffs clash on August 23 to secure a 5-0 aggregate victory over the Ukrainian side.
Roger Schmidt's men, who have been drawn with Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Maccabi Haifa in Group H of the continental showpiece, have now won their opening three Primeira Liga games for the third season on the bounce, scoring eight goals and keeping three clean in that time.
Benfica head into the midweek clash on a run of 12 consecutive victories across all competitions, dating back May 7 when they were beaten 1-0 by Porto courtesy of Zaidu Sanusi's 94th-minute strike.
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On the other hand, manager Cesar Peixoto must be feeling the pressure now more than ever as his Pacos de Ferreira side were left empty handed once again courtesy of a 3-0 home defeat against Estoril Praia last Friday.
In a game where Matchoi Djalo and Adrián Butzke both received their marching orders, Joao Carlos scored a first-half brace to set the visitors on their way to victory before new signing James Lea Siliki put the icing on the cake with a 72nd-minute strike.
Prior to that, the Pacenses kicked off their 2022-23 campaign with a 1-0 loss away to Gil Vicente in their league opener on August 8 before returning home one week later where they were thrashed 3-0 by a rampant Portimonense side.
Pacos de Ferreira have now failed to taste victory in each of their most recent eight Primeira Liga outings, losing six and picking up two draws since a 2-0 victory over Maritimo on April 9.
While they will be looking to end his dry spell, next up is the daunting challenge of going up against an opposing side who have won the most recent 10 meetings between the teams and are unbeaten in 19 of their last 20 encounters since March 2010.
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Team News
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Benfica will take to the pitch without the Brazilian duo of Joao Victor and Lucas Verissimo, who are currently recuperating from muscle and knee injuries respectively.
They are joined on the club's injury table by 21-year-old defender Tomas Tavares, who picked up a knee injury during his loan spell with Swiss outfit Basel.
Following his brace against Boavista, Mario is now tied on two goals with 29-year-old Rafa Silva and we expect the duo to combine in attack once again, alongside Portugal Under-21 international Goncalo Ramos.
As for Pacos de Ferreira, the defensive duo of Jorge Silva and Tiago Ilori will play no part in Tuesday's game as they are currently recuperating from knee and muscle injuries respectively.
Peixoto will also have to make do with the absence of Pedro Ganchas and goalkeeper Jordi, who were both absent from the matchday squad against Estoril Praia last time out through injury.
Veteran midfielder Luiz Carlos is expected to sit out his third consecutive game after the 37-year-old came off injured in the 51st minute against Gil Vicente on August 8.
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Otamendi, Morato, Grimaldo; Fernandez, Luís; Goncalves, Silva, Mario; Ramos
Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Oliveira; Fonseca, Ramos, Lima, Antunes; Pires, Kayky; Thomas, Ibrahim, Delgado; Koffi
We say: Benfica 2-0 Pacos de Ferreira
Benfica will be licking their lips as their next task pits them against a floundering Pacos de Ferreira side who have stumbled into the new season. Looking at recent results between the sides and the gulf in morale and quality in both squads, we are tipping Benfica to come away with a comfortable victory in front of their home fans.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
