In a clash that could play a decisive role in shaping the Primeira Liga's top four, Porto welcome Benfica for round 28 this weekend.
The second O Classico of the campaign arrives with the hosts sitting third, edging fourth-placed Braga on goal difference, while the visitors remain locked in a two-horse title race, trailing league leaders Sporting Lisbon on the same count.
Match preview
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Despite being nine points adrift of Benfica, Porto approach this fixture with optimism, knowing that victory would not only tighten their grip on third place but also revive their fading title hopes.
As 2024 drew to a close, the Dragons were firmly in the championship picture, rounding off with three straight league wins, and given Sporting's inconsistency at the time, many expected them to seize control of the title race.
However, the turn of the year brought its own struggles, with Porto managing just two victories in nine top-flight outings, though Martin Anselmi's men appear to have steadied the ship with a recent upturn in form.
For the first time in 2025, the Blue and Whites have strung together back-to-back league wins, beating AVS 2-0 before edging Estoril Praia 2-1 last time out, a result that took their tally to 56 points.
Chasing a third consecutive triumph on Sunday, Porto have extra incentive in the form of revenge, having suffered a humbling 4-1 defeat in the reverse fixture in November.
The Dragons, however, will take heart from their most recent meeting with Benfica at Estadio do Dragao, where they produced an emphatic 5-0 victory.
Although such one-sided performances in top-profile derbies are rare, Porto can at least hope for another triumph, having turned their home ground into a fortress with 10 wins from 13 league matches, scoring 30 goals and conceding just five - the fewest of any side in the division.
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Benfica, though, will not arrive as easy prey, boasting the third-best away record in the league, with eight wins, two draws and three defeats from their Primeira Liga trips this season, netting 22 times and conceding 13.
Like their hosts, the Eagles endured a turbulent spell heading into the new year, winning just once and losing three of their four matches from December 29 to January 25, but that stumble has since given way to a dominant run.
Bruno Lage's men have won eight straight league matches, scoring exactly three goals in seven of them, including their most recent 3-2 victory over relegation-threatened SC Farense.
That result lifted Benfica's tally to 65 points from 21 wins, two draws and four defeats, leaving them trailing Sporting only by a plus-seven goal difference.
A win on Sunday would send the visitors to the top of the table, at least until Sporting play their matchday 28 fixture on Monday, while also securing their first league double over Porto since 2018-19.
Team News
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Samu Aghehowa ended his goal drought by netting the equaliser against Estoril last weekend, strengthening his case for a starting role up front.
Midfield duo Vasco Sousa and Marko Grujic remain sidelined with a broken fibula and heel injury respectively, as they continue their recoveries.
For Benfica, Tomas Araujo was rested in midweek and is expected to return at right-back, relegating Samuel Dahl to the bench, especially if Lage opts for a three-man defensive line.
Florentino Luis also sat out the last encounter to avoid missing this crucial clash, given he is one yellow card away from suspension and will potentially pair up with Orkun Kokcu in a double pivot, while Fredrik Aursnes assumes the number 10 role.
Tiago Gouveia, Alexander Bah and Manu Silva remain unavailable for the visitors as they continue their spells on the sidelines due to injury.
Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Perez, Marcano, Pedro; Moura, Varela, Eustaquio, Mario; Mora, Aghehowa, Vieira
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Carreras, Silva, Otamendi, Araujo; Florentino, Kokcu; Akturkoglu. Aursnes, Di Maria; Pavlidis
We say: Porto 1-1 Benfica
With both teams having much at stake, we anticipate a closely fought contest, characterised by tactical discipline and a cautious approach.
Although Benfica have been in formidable form of late, Porto's unbeaten record at home this season is no mere coincidence, and it is likely to play a pivotal role once again, leading us to forecast a low-scoring draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
