Estrela Amadora and Benfica get their 2022-23 Taca da Liga campaign underway when they go head to head in Group C at the Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa on Sunday.
This will be the first meeting between the sides since they locked horns in the round of 16 of the cup competition last season, where As Aguias cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory away from home.
Match preview
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Estrela Amadora have enjoyed a solid run in the Segunda Liga, where they currently sit in the upper echelons of the table and are in line to make their return to the top flight since their relegation in the 2008-09 campaign.
Sergio Vieira's men have picked up five wins, seven draws and lost one of their 13 league matches to collect 22 points and sit fourth in the league standings, level on points with third-placed Benfica B in the promotion playoff spot.
This has been owing to their impressive home record as Estrela Amadora are one of just three sides yet to suffer defeat in front of their fans this season, claiming three wins and four draws in their seven league outings.
The Tricolores picked up their first set of successive victories since last December in their most recent outing, when they saw off Oliveirense 1-0 on November 12 courtesy of a 97th-minute winner from Ronald.
They head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their last five matches across all competitions, claiming three wins and two draws since a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Torreense on October 8.
While Estrela Amadora will be looking to pick up a third win on the trot and kick off their Group C campaign on a high, Sunday's game pits them against a bogey Benfica side who they have failed to defeat in their last 14 attempts, losing 12 and managing two draws since December 2003.
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Benfica, on the other hand, continued their Primeira Liga title charge in their most recent outing when they claimed a comfortable 3-1 victory over league strugglers Gil Vicente on home turf.
In an action-packed contest at the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Joao Mario and Goncalo Ramos scored either side of Fran Navarro's 17th-minute equaliser to hand the hosts a first-half lead before Ramos completed the rout with a 53rd-minute strike.
Benfica have now won each of their last eight matches across all competitions — a run which saw them clinch top spot in Group H of the Champions League ahead of Paris Saint-Germain to set up a knockout stage clash against Belgian champions Club Brugge.
As Aguias, who are unbeaten in their last 31 matches across all competitions, have also progressed to the round of 16 of the Taca de Portugal after claiming victories over Caldas SC and Estoril Praia in the opening two rounds.
Benfica's superb start to the season has put them well on course for their first Primeira Liga title since the 2018-19 campaign as they currently sit top of the league standings with an eight-point cushion over second-placed Porto.
Roger Schmidt's side, who are the record Taca da Liga winners with seven titles to their name, will be looking to go one step better than their 2021-22 cup campaign, where they fell to a 2-1 loss against rivals Sporting Lisbon back in January.
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Team News
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Off the back of keeping their first clean sheet since July, Vieira could name an unchanged defence line, meaning that we could see Jean Felipe, Johnstone Omurwa and Joao Reis retain their starting roles.
Centre-back Kialonda Gaspar is currently on international duty with the Angola squad, meaning veteran defender Miguel Lopes could complete the back four shielding Wagner Augusto between the sticks.
Paulinho has been a standout performer for Estrela Amadora this season and the 23-year-old forward, who has eight goals in nine Segunda Liga matches, should come into the XI, having started off the bench against Oliveirense last time out.
Benfica will have to make do without the services of Antonio Silva, former Inter Milan forward Mario and Ramos, who are all on duty for Portugal in the World Cup.
Veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi and 21-year-old midfielder Enzo Fernandez are also away with the Argentina national team and will play no part in this weekend's matchup.
In their absence, Rafa Silva, who boasts eight goal involvements in the Primeira Liga, should spearhead the attack, alongside 24-year-old Petar Musa and former Ajax man David Neres.
At the centre of the park, Diogo Goncalves should come into the XI to partner Florentino Luis and Chiquinho, while we expect a centre-back pairing of Joao Victor and summer signing John Brooks.
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Augusto; Felipe, Omurwa, Lopes, Reis; Correia, Guzman; Henrique, Fall, Ronald; Paulinho
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Grimaldo, Victor, Brooks, Bah; Luis, Goncalves, Chiquinho; Neres, Silva, Musa
We say: Estrela Amadora 0-4 Benfica
While Estrela Amadora have put together a fine run of form in recent weeks, they are certainly in for a tough 90 minutes against a Benfica side who are currently firing on all cylinders. Given the gulf in class and quality between the two sides, we are backing As Aguias to come away with all three points.
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