Fresh off the back of securing Champions League football, Benfica return to action in the Portuguese Primeira Liga when they take on Alverca on Sunday. While Custodio Castro’s side have their work cut out this weekend, they will look to test themselves against one of the best sides in the country, having returned to the top flight for the first time since 2004.
Football Whispers’ Alverca vs Benfica prediction takes a look at the odds of both teams picking up all three points at the Complexo Desportivo FC Alverca.
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Alverca vs Benfica prediction: Benfica to keep the juggernaut rolling
Key stats
- Alverca have failed to win each of their last five matches across all competitions, losing three and claiming two draws since a 1-0 friendly victory over Braga B back in July.
- Benfica are on a run of nine straight Primeira Liga away games without defeat, picking up eight wins and one draw since a 3-1 loss at Casa Pia on January 25.
- Alverca have lost just one home game in 2025 while picking up seven wins and one draw from their 11 matches since the turn of the year.
- Benfica have netted the opening goal in seven of their last eight games, with a combined 15 goals scored across the eight matches.
Correct score prediction: Alverca 0-3 Benfica
With the thrill from clinching a spot in the Champions League group stages still in the air, Benfica will return to league action in high spirits as they look to maintain their solid start to the campaign.
We expect Alverca to put up a fight on their own patch, but given the gulf in quality and experience between the two teams, we fancy Benfica to claim all three points unscathed.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Benfica heavy favourites
- HOME: 12/1 (13.00) – 7.7%
- DRAW: 5/1 (6.00) – 16.7%
- AWAY: 2/9 (1.22) – 81.8%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
With an 81.8% win probability, the bookies have Benfica down as clear favourites to come out on top at the Complexo Desportivo FC Alverca this weekend.
While Alverca will look to cause an upset, they stand a 7.7% chance of doing that, while there is a 16.7% possibility that the game ends in a stalemate.
Alverca were left with a bitter taste of “what could have been” in their quest for a first win since returning to the top flight on Monday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by a resilient Estrela Amadora side.
A 1-0 victory over Fenerbahce on Wednesday saw Benfica book their spot in the 2025-26 Champions League as they completed a 1-0 aggregate win over the Turkish powerhouse in their playoff clash.
For more from the upcoming weekend fixtures, you can take a look at some of FootballWhispers’ best picks and predictions in today’s free football betting tips.
Most recent H2Hs: Benfica leading proceedings
Benfica holds the upper hand in this fixture over their most recent six meetings, having picked up four wins since December 2000, compared to Alverca’s two victories.
Their last encounter came back in March 2005, when As Aguias secured a 2-0 victory to extend their winning streak over Alverca to four matches.
Alverca failed to secure their first win of the new campaign last Monday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Estrala after blowing a two-goal lead at the Estadio Jose Gomes.
Cedric Nuozzi and Marko Milovanovic found the back of the net to put Alverca in dreamland, but Fabio Ronaldo's strike right on the stroke of halftime ignited the Estrela comeback as Sidny Lopes Cabral hit the target in the 63rd minute to force a share of the spoils.
While Alverca will be disappointed not to have secured all three points at the Estadio Jose Gomes, head coach Custodio will urge his side to take the positives from their performance, having suffered defeats against Moreirense and Braga in the opening two matches.
The 42-year-old tactician will be unable to call upon the services of defender Kaiky Naves, who is suspended after picking up a red card against Estrela last time out.
Predicted lineup: Gomes (GK), Martinez, Gomez, Meupiyou, Touaizi, Amorim, Mendes, James, Nuozzi, Milovanovic & Chiquinho
Portugal Primeira Liga 25/08/25
D
Estrela
2
Alverca
2
Portugal Primeira Liga 17/08/25
L
Braga
3
Alverca
0
Portugal Primeira Liga 10/08/25
L
Moreirense
2
Alverca
1
Portugal Segunda Liga 16/05/25
W
Portimonense
1
Alverca
2
Portugal Segunda Liga 11/05/25
W
Tondela
1
Alverca
2
Benfica preview: A strong start to the season
Benfica head into the weekend with two wins from their first two Primeira Liga matches this season, having edged out Estrela and Tondela while scoring four goals and keeping two clean sheets.
Bruno Lage’s men also confirmed their Champions League berth in midweek when they picked up a 1-0 victory over Fenerbahce in the second leg of the playoff to complete a 1-0 aggregate win over the Turkish powerhouse.
With the midweek result, Benfica have now gone unbeaten in each of their eight matches across all competitions, claiming seven wins and one draw since losing 4-1 versus Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup back in June.
This solid run of results has seen Benfica clinch their first silverware of the season as they picked up a 1-0 victory over rivals Sporting Lisbon on July 31 in the Portuguese Super Cup.
Predicted lineup: Soares (GK), Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Obrador, Aursnes, Barrenechea, Rios, Schjelderup, Pavlidis & Ivanovic
Portugal Primeira Liga 10/05/25
D
Sporting
1
Benfica
1
Portugal Primeira Liga 03/05/25
W
Estoril
1
Benfica
2
Portugal Primeira Liga 27/04/25
W
AVS
0
Benfica
6
Portugal Cup 23/04/25
W
FC Tirsense
0
Benfica
4
Portugal Primeira Liga 19/04/25
W
Guimaraes
0
Benfica
3
Player to watch – Vangelis Pavlidis
Vangelis Pavlidis has endured a slow start to the 2025-26 campaign, but we expect the Greek striker to make his mark at the Complexo Desportivo FC Alverca this weekend.
Pavlidis enjoyed a stellar debut season with As Aguias last term, when he finished second in the Primeira Liga scoring chart with 19 goals in 34 Primeira Liga while chipping in seven assists.
The 26-year-old has found the net in just two of Benfica’s seven matches this season, but his second-half strike against rivals Sporting Lisbon on July 31 saw Lage’s men clinch the 2025-26 Super Cup.
Having started As Aguias’ two league matches this season, we expect Pavlidis to retain his role in the XI, forming the front three with Fredrik Aursnes and Turkish international Kerem Akturkoglu.