Boavista and Benfica draw the curtains on round six of the Portuguese Primeira Liga when they go head to head at the Estadio do Bessa on Monday.
With the thrill from their midweek Champions League victory still in the air, As Aguias will head into this one with sky-high confidence as they look to end their run of four consecutive away games without a win in the league.
Match preview
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Boavista's early-season struggles continued last Monday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Estrela Amadora after giving up their lead twice at the Estadio Jose Gomes.
Bruno Onyemaechj and Ilija Voktic found the back of the net to put the visitors ahead but Estrela replied with goals of their own through Kikas and former Manchester United winger Luis Nani as both sides settled for a share of the spoils.
Off the back of a 15th-placed finish last season, Boavista kicked off the new campaign with promise as they secured a 1-0 opening-day victory away to Cara Pia on August 10, but a run of just two points from their subsequent four matches has seen them crash back down to earth.
With Monday's stalemate, Cristiano Bacci's men have now failed to win 13 of their last 14 Primeira Liga matches — losing nine and claiming four draws — with the narrow victory over Casa Pia in the season opener back in August being the exception.
Next up for Boavista is the challenge of taking on an opposing side who are unbeaten in 17 of their last 20 encounters— claiming 14 wins and three draws — a run that does not bode well as they look to secure their first home victory since beating Moreirense 1-0 on March 9.
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Benfica, on the other hand, picked up a dream start to the 2024-25 Champions League campaign as they secured a 2-1 victory over Serbian powerhouse Red Star Belgrade on Thursday.
Kerem Akturkoglu and fellow Turkey international Orkun Kokcu scored first-half goals at the Rajko Mitic Stadium to put the visitors in the driver's seat before 24-year-old striker Milson pulled one back for Red Star Belgrade in the 86th minute.
This was in keeping with their fine run of results in the Primeira Liga, where As Aguias have bounced back from August's opening-day loss against Famalicao to secure three wins and one draw from their subsequent four matches.
Benfica had to show their mettle in their most recent league outings as they fought back from behind to grab a 4-1 victory over Santa Clara last Saturday courtesy of goals from Akturkoglu, Florentino Luis, Antonio Silva and Angel Di Maria.
Bruno Lage's men will look to pick up from where they left off in the Champions League as they journey to the Estadio do Bessa on a run of four back-to-back away games without a win in the Primeira Liga, losing twice and claiming two draws since a 3-1 victory at Farense on April 22.
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Team News
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Boavista will have to cope without the services of first-choice goalkeeper Joao Goncalves, who missed last Monday's clash with Estrela Amadora through a knee injury.
With veteran goalkeeper Cesar Dutra also ruled out through an ACL injury, Tome Sousa was handed a starting role versus Estrela and the 17-year-old should start between the sticks once again.
Other names in the club's injury table include Morales Pires, who is currently recuperating from a knee injury, while 25-year-old midfielder Miguel Reisinho is set to sit out his second consecutive game through a shoulder problem.
As for Benfica, they will take to the pitch without 23-year-old forward Tiago Gouveia, who has missed each of the last three games since picking up a shoulder injury against Estrela on August 24.
Renato Sanchez picked up a muscle injury against Moreirense on August 30 and is also out of contention for As Aguias while Alexander Bah is a major doubt after suffering a game-ending injury in the first half against Red Star Belgrade in midweek.
Akturkoglu has hit the ground running since joining from Galatasaray and the Turkish forward, who has netted in each of his two games, should form the visitors' attacking quarter with Di Maria, Benjamin Rollheiser and Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis.
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Sousa; Gomes, Abascal, Onyemaechi, Ferreira, Vukotic; Camara, Perez; Miguel, Bozenik, Agra
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Bah, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Kokcu, Luís; Di Maria, Rollheiser, Akturkoglu; Pavlidis
We say: Boavista 1-3 Benfica
Fresh off the back of a positive result in the Champions League, Benfica will return to league action full of confidence as they look to put together a strong early-season form.
While we expect Boavista to put up a fight in front of their home supporters, Lage's men boast the firepower needed to get the job done and we are tipping them to secure all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
