Primeira Liga giants Benfica will be aiming to stay within touching distance of the summit when they welcome Famalicao to Estadio da Luz on Monday in their penultimate outing of 2025.
The teams will head into this one off the back of contrasting Taca de Portugal fortunes last time out, as the hosts breezed past Farense, while their visitors were dumped out by Porto.
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Benfica vs Famalicao prediction: As Aguias to secure routine triumph
Key stats
- Benfica have won each of their last three straight matches without conceding.
- Monday's hosts are also unbeaten in eight outings across all competitions, breaking the deadlock in six of them.
- There have been at least three goals in each of Famalicao's last five matches, four of which have ended with both teams scoring.
Correct score prediction: Benfica 3-1 Famalicao
Benfica could kick off Monday's game 11 points shy of Porto at the top and will know there is little margin for error if they are to keep their already faint title hopes alive.
Jose Mourinho's side are one of two teams in the Portuguese top flight yet to taste a league defeat on home turf this term, and we back them to get the job done with relative ease here.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Hosts in the driving seat
- HOME: 7/20 (1.35) – 74.1%
- DRAW: 4/1 (5.00) – 20%
- AWAY: 7/1 (8.00) – 12.5%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Having lost just one Primeira home match in 2025, Benfica are usually fancied to get the job done in front of their fans, and Monday's case is no exception, with a whopping 74.1% win probability.
Mourinho's men are back on home turf after consecutive wins over Moreirense and Farense on the road by a combined score of 6-0 over the last seven days.
While Benfica have been solid on their own patch, Famalicao have often given a good account of themselves away from home, where they are unbeaten in six league matches this season.
Still, a 12.5% chance of winning suggests Hugo Oliveira's men have it all to do here in a second straight matchup against two of Portugal's top three teams four days after a 4-1 defeat to Porto.
For more from the upcoming matches, today’s free football betting tips look at some of the best picks.
Most recent H2Hs: Home wins the order of the day
Each of the last six meetings between Benfica and Famalicao has ended with the home team coming out on top.
Aside from away triumphs, goals at both ends have also been a rarity in this fixture of late, with none of the most recent eight editions witnessing both teams
Portugal Primeira Liga 17/01/25
Benfica
Famalicao
Portugal Primeira Liga 11/08/24
Famalicao
Benfica
Portugal Primeira Liga 05/05/24
Famalicao
Benfica
Portugal Primeira Liga 29/12/23
Benfica
Famalicao
Portugal Cup 25/11/23
Benfica
Famalicao
Benfica preview: Leandro Barreiro joins list of absentees
Barreiro saw his streak of featuring in 11 straight Benfica matches come to an end against Farense due to an injury problem he sustained against Moreirense.
The Luxembourg international is also expected to miss out for the hosts on Monday, joining Alexander Bah, Bruma, Nuno Felix and Dodi Lukebakio on the treatment table.
Predicted lineup: Trubin (GK), Dedic, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl, Barrenechea, Rios, Aursnes, Prestianni, Sudakov & Pavlidis
Benfica's last five matches:
- Farense 0-2 Benfica (Taca de Portugal)
- Moreirense 0-4 Benfica (Primeira Liga)
- Benfica 2-0 Napoli (Champions League)
- Benfica 1-1 Sporting CP (Primeira Liga)
- Nacional 1-2 Benfica (Primeira Liga)
Famalicao preview: Spanish duo still far off returning to action
Oscar Aranda and Gonzalo Pastor are yet to feature for Famalicao this term as they continue to nurse respective long-term injury problems.
Nigerian teenager Umar Abubakar is also unavailable for a sixth straight game due to injury, while Pedro Bondo has headed off to represent Angola at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Predicted lineup: Carevic (GK), Soares, De Haas, Ba, Pinheiro, De Amorim, Van de Looi, Sorriso, Sa, Dias & Zabiri
Famalicao's last five matches:
- Porto 4-1 Famalicao (Taca de Portugal)
- Famalicao 4-0 Estoril (Primeira Liga)
- Famalicao 1-2 Braga (Primeira Liga)
- Moreirense 2-2 Famalicao (Primeira Liga)
- Estoril 1-2 Famalicao (Taca de Portugal)
Player to watch – Vangelis Pavlidis
With 13 goals so far, Vangelis Pavlidis is leading the race for Golden Boot heading into the midway point of the season.
The Greek striker is just six goals away from matching his tally from last season as he continues to enjoy a stellar year in Lisbon.
Having failed to score in his previous two appearances against Famalicao, Pavlidis will hope the third time is the charm to end his drought in this fixture and fire his side to victory.