Preview: Nacional vs. Benfica

Seeking to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since returning to the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Nacional play host to Benfica at the Estadio da Madeira on Friday.

As Aguias, who are unbeaten in their last 20 games against the home side, will head into the weekend looking to extend this dominant run and make it 12 straight league games without defeat since mid August.

Match preview

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While it has been a topsy-turvy campaign for Nacional, head coach Tiago Margarido will delighted with his side’s display last weekend when they held their own to see out a 1-0 victory over Moreirense on home turf.

The Alvinegros had failed to win any of the previous 12 meetings between the sides since January 15, but their constant wave of attack was rewarded in the 55th minute when Jose Gomes fired past Kewin between the sticks for Os verdes e brancos to grab all three points.

Before that, Nacional were on a run of three consecutive games without a win, picking up one point front from a possible nine, and had managed just one victory from 10 games across all competitions leading up to the Moreirense clash.

Having gained promotion from the second tier last term, Margarido’s men have picked up three wins from their 13 Primeira Liga matches while losing seven and claiming three draws to collect 12 points and sit 13th in the table, level on points with AVS and Estrela Amadora, and just one point above the bottom three.

While Nacional have been rock-solid at home, where each of their three league wins have come, their form on the road has been nothing to write home about as they have failed to taste victory in any of their nine away matches in all competitions are and currently hold the division’s second-fewest point tally (2).

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On the other hand, Benfica were left spitting feathers last Sunday when they played out a 1-1 draw with AVS at the Estadio do CD das Aves after conceding the equaliser with the last significant kick of the game.

Burnley loanee Zeki Amdouni opened the scoring in the 17th minute to set Benfica on their way but they struggled to string anything meaningful in attack from there on before Christian Castro snatched a point for the hosts in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

This came just three days on from a somewhat disappointing goalless draw with Italian side Bologna in the Champions League, where they currently sit 15th in the standings, having picked up 10 points from six matches so far.

While last weekend’s stalemate saw Benfica’s eight-game winning streak in the Primeira Liga come to an and, they are now unbeaten in 12 straight league matches, picking up 10 wins and two draws since kicking off the campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Famalicao on August 11.

With a third of the season gone, Artur Jorge‘s men currently sit second in the league standings with 32 points from a possible 39 and could move within a point of rivals Sporting Lisbon at the top of the pile with a win at the Estadio da Madeira.

Benfica will fancy their chances this weekend as they go up against an opposing team whom they are on a dominant run against, picking up 18 wins and two draws from the previous 20 encounters between the sides since December 2008.

Nacional Primeira Liga form:

Nacional form (all competitions):

Benfica Primeira Liga form:

Benfica form (all competitions):

Team News

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Off the back of a solid team display against Moreirense, we expect Margarido to name a similar starting XI this weekend, meaning we should see a back four of Gustavo Garcia, Ze Vitor, Ulisses Rocha and Gomes once again.

Brazilian forward Isaac was forced off with a late injury in the aforementioned game but should lead the hosts’ attack, alongside Englishman Arvin Appiah and Celtic loanee Nigel Thomas.

Nacional skipper Luis Esteves has played every minute of the league campaign so far and the Portuguese midfielder should start at the centre of the park once again, teaming up with Djibril Soumare and Bruno Costa.

As for Benfica, 23-year-old forward Tiago Gouveia has been sidelined since coming off with a shoulder injury in August and is out of contention for this weekend’s matchup.

He is joined on As Aguias’ injury table by fellow Portuguese attacker Renato Sanches, who has missed each of the last six games after sustaining a muscle problem in November.

Nacional possible starting lineup:
Franca; Garcia, Ze Vitor, Ulisses, Gomes; Esteves, Soumare, Costa; Appiah, Isaac, Thomas

Benfica possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Bah, Araujo, Otamendi, Carreras; Aursnes, Luis; Di Maria, Kokcu, Akturkoglu; Pavlidis

We say: Nacional 0-2 Benfica

Buoyed by their solid performances against Moreirense, Nacional will head into the weekend with confidence as they look to end their dire run against the visitors and pull clear of the danger zone.

However, given the gulf in quality and depth between the two teams, we are backing As Aguias to come away with all three points and extend their unbeaten run in the league to 13 matches.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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