On Saturday evening, Arouca hosts reigning Portuguese champions Benfica at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca as the visitors look to boost their chances of retaining the Primeira Liga crown.
Arouca form guideThe home team is in 11th place in the Portuguese top-flight table, four points clear of the league’s bottom three.
Arouca head into this clash with the champions in a rich vein of form, as a 4-1 win at Estrela last time out in the Primeira Liga means that they are unbeaten in four Liga games, having recorded three wins and a draw.
Daniel Sousa’s team has also been prolific lately in the Portuguese top flight, scoring at least two goals in their last four outings.
Arouca has a poor recent home record in the Primeira Liga, winning just one of their last seven games. However, that one win came in a 3-0 victory over Gil Vicente in their previous home game in the Liga.
Benfica form guideRoger Schmidt’s team is in second place in the Primeira Liga table, a point behind city rivals and league leaders Sporting.
A 3-0 home win over Famalicao in their previous Liga game means that the Eagles are unbeaten in their last 14 games, having recorded 11 wins and three draws.
The visitors will be pleased with their recent defensive record in the Primeira Liga, as they have conceded just one goal in their last four matches in the Portuguese top flight.
Benfica have been strong on their travels of late in the Primeira Liga, as they are unbeaten in six of their previous seven away games in the Portuguese top-flight, having also kept four straight clean sheets on their travels.
What am I backing?Both teams head into this clash in good form. However, I believe the visitors will have too much quality for Arouca, recording a relatively narrow win.
