Benfica vs Vitoria Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Portuguese Primeira Liga
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THE FACTS
When is Benfica vs Vitoria on and what time does it start? Benfica vs Vitoria will take place on Saturday 2nd September, 2023 – 20:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Benfica vs Vitoria? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Benfica vs Vitoria on in the UK? Some Portuguese Primeira Liga matches are televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports in the UK so it is worth checking their schedules
Where can I Benfica vs Vitoria in the UK? If televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports, the match can be streamed on their respective streaming platforms
THE LOWDOWN
BENFICA
Under the management of Roger Schmidt, Benfica reclaimed the Portuguese title last season with some excellent performances throughout the campaign but the Lisbon club did slightly drop off in their form in their latter stages of the season. After another busy summer, which has seen the return of Angel Di Maria, they are seeking to retain the title but have made a tricky start.
On the opening day of the season, they led away to Boavista going into second-half stoppage-time but ended up losing the game by three goals to two. They followed that up with an unconvincing 2-0 win at home to newly-promoted Estrela da Amadora, with both goals coming late on in the match. Last weekend, they were also unconvincing in their 3-2 defeat of a much-improved Gil Vicente side.
VITORIA
In 2022, Vitoria qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League but then lost their manager as well as five or six genuinely first eleven players and were knocked out in the third qualifying round of that competition, as well as starting the Primeira Liga season slowly. They were once again knocked out early in Europe, losing to Slovenian side Celje, but have by no means started slowly domestically.
The Guimaraes-based club have begun the 2023/24 campaign with three successive victories as they seek to remain one of the top six sides in the country. Their opening match of the season saw them edge past ten-man and newly-promoted Estrela da Amadora before then coming from behind to defeat Gil Vicente and then, last weekend, they comfortably defeated Vizela by two goals to nil.
THE TEAM NEWS
BENFICA
Roger Schmidt appears to still be searching for some fluency and the right formula up-front with several new signings. He remains without injured left-back David Jurasek.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Bah, A.Silva, Otamendi, Aursnes; Luis, Kokcu; Di Maria, R.Silva, Joao Mario; Cabral
UNAVAILABLE: Jurasek (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
VITORIA
Moreno, despite overseeing a victory last weekend, will be forced to make a change for this weekend due to Nuno Santos’ late red card in that match.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Bruno Varela; Fernandes, M.Silva, Villanueva; Gaspar, T.Silva, Handel, Mendes, Freitas; A.Silva, J.Silva
UNAVAILABLE: Santos (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Throughout the early stages of this campaign, despite winning two of their three league matches and winning a trophy in the Supertaca Candido de Oliveira, Benfica have been very unconvincing at the start of this season. A 3-2 defeat, 3-2 win sandwiching a very difficult 2-0 defeat of a team playing in their first ever Primeira Liga season does not inspire confidence. Vitoria, especially with three successive wins, will be confident of going to the Estadio da Luz and causing problems to their opposition. The hosts remain favourites but Vitoria will fancy their chances of doing something in the capital.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
