Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 4/9
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Benfica will kick off their campaign to reclaim the Primeira Liga title with an away match against Famalicao at Estadio Municipal 22 de Junho on Sunday evening.
Famalicao finished last season in eighth place with 42 points, while Benfica were runners-up in the league with 80 points, trailing champions Sporting Lisbon by 10 points.
Famalicao
Famalicao secured an eighth-place finish for the third consecutive season in 2023/24, although they earned two fewer points compared to the previous campaign. However, they did close the gap to the top six teams by two points.
This season, the primary objective will be to edge closer to European qualification, and they’ve had a promising pre-season, remaining unbeaten in six matches, including victories over Casa Pia and Moreirense in the last month.
Facing Benfica is always a tough challenge, but Famalicao will draw confidence from their last encounter with the Eagles in gameweek 32 of last season, where they pulled off a surprising 2-0 win at home. That victory not only provided three valuable points but also dashed Benfica’s title hopes, leaving them 10 points behind Sporting Lisbon with just two games remaining.
Under Armando Evangelista, Famalicao had a mixed record at home last season, with six wins, six draws, and five losses. However, their goal-scoring at home was a concern, managing just 21 goals, the lowest of any team in the top half of the table.
Team News
Famalicao begin the new season with just one injury concern, as Lucas Calegari remains sidelined due to an ankle injury he sustained during pre-season.
Evangelista has strengthened his squad with the additions of Gil Dias from Stuttgart, Rochinha from Kasimpasa, and Mario Gonzalez on loan from Los Angeles FC. All three new signings are expected to be in contention for their debuts this weekend.
Benfica
Benfica will likely view last season as a disappointment, having been forced to relinquish the league title and finishing without any silverware after exiting both domestic cups in the semi-finals.
In European competition, the Eagles placed third in their Champions League group and reached the Europa League quarter-finals, only to be eliminated by Marseille on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
Over the summer, Roger Schmidt has been active in strengthening the squad to mount a serious challenge against Sporting. However, the team experienced a significant loss with the departure of Joao Neves, who joined PSG last week.
On the positive side, Benfica secured a contract extension for World Cup winner Angel Di Maria and brought in Renato Sanchez on loan, adding valuable experience to their ranks.
With Sporting already off to a strong start in the new season, Benfica will be eager to respond with a victory to avoid falling behind early in the title race.
Team News
Benfica will begin the season without Tomas Araujo, who is sidelined due to injury, while David Neres and Marcos Leonardo are doubtful for the opener.
During the offseason, Paulo Bernardo transferred to Celtic, which opens up opportunities for Leandro Barreiro and possibly Florentino Luis or Renato Sanchez to take up roles in midfield.
Casper Tengstedt has gone on a season-long loan to Hellas Verona, but Benfica brought in Vangelis Pavlidis from AZ Alkmaar as his replacement. The Greek international is expected to start up front, likely alongside Joao Mario.
Conclusion
Benfica will be eager to kick off the new campaign with a strong performance, especially after watching Sporting secure their first win of the season. While Famalicao are known for being tough to beat at home, Benfica’s firepower will probably see them outscore their opponents in this match.
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 4/9
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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