On Friday evening, reigning Portuguese champions Benfica will host Chaves at the Estadio da Luz as both teams look for potentially vital points in the Primeira Liga.
Benfica in massive title battle with city rivalsThe Eagles find themselves in an almighty fight to retain their Primeira Liga crown. Roger Schmidt’s team are currently in second place in the table, a point behind city rivals Sporting CP.
To make matters worse, Sporting also has a game in hand on the champions. The home team have been in decent recent form in the Portuguese top flight, having won four of their previous five outings in the Primeira Liga.
Benfica also has a strong recent home record. They are unbeaten in 16 Liga games on home soil, having recorded 14 wins and two draws.
The Eagles’ recent stellar run of home form includes recording seven straight home wins, having scored at least two goals in each home victory.
Chaves are desperate to cause a shock in the capitalTime is running out for Chaves to pick up enough points to save themselves from relegation to the second tier. The visitors are currently bottom of the Primeira Liga table, six points adrift of the safety 15th place.
Moreno’s team’s recent form in the Primeira Liga has not helped their chances of survival. A 2-1 home defeat by Vitoria Guimaraes means they are winless in their last four Portuguese top-flight matches.
Chaves are winless in their last nine away games in the Primeira Liga. However, four of their previous five matches on their travels in the Portuguese top flight have produced draws.
Their recent away games in the Primeira Liga have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in five of their last six games.
What am I backing?It is hard to back anything other than a home win, so that’s the bet I am going to back.
