Still licking their wounds from their Champions League defeat against Chelsea, Benfica return to action in the Primeira Liga with a blockbuster clash against rivals Porto on Sunday. The Dragoes, meanwhile, head into the latest edition of the heated O Classico with a 100% record this season and will be looking to open up a six-point lead at the top of the table.
FootballWhispers’ Porto vs Benfica prediction takes a look at the chances of both sides securing all three points as well as bragging rights this weekend.
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Porto vs Benfica prediction: Goals galore on the cards
Key stats
- While Porto have netted the opening goal in each of their most recent 10 matches, Benfica have opened the scoring in six of the last seven meetings between the two teams.
- There have been at least three goals scored in five of Porto’s last seven matches, with a combined 19 goals netted across the seven games.
- Benfica are unbeaten in each of their last 22 Primeira Liga matches, picking up 17 wins and five draws since January’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Casa Pia.
- Porto are on a run of seven back-to-back home victories across all competitions, a run stretching back to April 6, when they were beaten 4-1 by Benfica.
- Benfica and Porto are the two unbeaten sides left in the Primeira Liga this season, with the home side claiming seven wins from seven games while As Aguias have picked up five victories and two draws so far.
Correct score prediction: Porto 2-2 Benfica
With five goals scored in each of the last five meetings between Porto and Benfica, we anticipate another action-packed contest at the Estadio do Dragao with plenty of goalmouth action.
While Porto are currently firing on all cylinders, Sunday’s tie will be a tricky one for them, having lost four of their last five games against Benfica. That said, we predict both sides will cancel out each other’s efforts in a high-scoring stalemate.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Bookies back Porto to claim O Classico bragging rights
- HOME: 19/20 (1.95) – 51.3%
- DRAW: 5/2 (3.50) – 28.6%
- AWAY: 14/5 (3.80) – 26.3%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Porto and Benfica are unbeaten in the league this term, but the bookmakers are tipping the Dragoes to come out on top in Sunday’s highly anticipated O Classico, as indicated by their 51.3% win probability.
While Benfica have not lost consecutive games since January, they have been handed just a 26.3% chance of picking up the win, while there is a 28.6% possibility of the tie ending in a stalemate.
Benfica did the double against Porto last season, cruising to a 4-1 home victory in November before thrashing the Dragoes by the same scoreline in April’s reverse fixture at the Estadio do Dragao.
While we take a deeper look into both teams, you can take a peek at some of FootballWhispers’ best picks and predictions in today’s free football betting tips.
Most recent H2Hs: Results split right down the middle
The results have been split evenly between Porto and Benfica across their last 10 meetings, with the two teams picking up five victories each since December 2021.
Their most recent encounter came in April when Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis netted three goals in a thrilling individual display to fire Benfica to a 4-1 victory.
Portugal Primeira Liga 06/04/25
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Portugal Primeira Liga 10/11/24
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Portugal Primeira Liga 03/03/24
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Portugal Primeira Liga 29/09/23
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Portugal Super Cup 09/08/23
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Porto preview: A remarkable start to the campaign
Having kicked off their European quest with a 1-0 victory over Salzburg on September 25, Porto made it two wins from two in the Europa League on Thursday when they snatched a late 2-1 victory over Serbian powerhouse Red Star Belgrade at the Estadio do Dragao.
The Dragoes went in front on the eighth-minute mark courtesy of a penalty from William Gomes, and after Vasilije Kostov pulled one for Red Star in the 32nd minute, Rodrigo Mora struck in the 89th minute to seal the win for the hosts.
Porto’s flying start to the Europa League has tallied with their impressive string of results in the Primeira Liga, where they thrashed Arouca 4-0 last Monday to maintain their 100% league record and equal their third-best start to the league campaign.
Francesco Farioli’s men have won each of their seven Primeira Liga matches this term, scoring 19 goals and conceding just once, to sit top of the league standings, three points above second-placed Sporting Lisbon.
Predicted lineup: Costa (GK), Costa, Bednarek, Kiwior, Moura, Froholdt, Varela, Veiga, Pepe, Aghehowa & Sainz
Last five games
- Porto 2-1 Red Star Belgrade
- Arouca 0-4 Porto
- Salzburg 0-1 Porto
- Rio Ave 0-3 Porto
- Porto 1-0 Nacional
Benfica preview: Out to bounce back from yet another disappointing Champions League result
Benfica were left empty-handed in their second Champions League outing last Tuesday when they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea.
Richard Rois’s 18th-minute own goal proved to be the difference at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea held their own to see out their first European win of the campaign.
While Benfica have opened the Champions League campaign with consecutive losses against Chelsea and Qarabag, they turn their focus to the Primeira Liga, where they secured a 2-1 victory over Gil Vicente last time out to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Jose Mourinho’s side have won five of their seven league games so far, while playing out stalemates against Santa Clara and Rio Ave respectively, to collect 17 points and sit third in the table, one point off Sporting Lisbon.
Predicted lineup: Trubin (GK), Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl, Aursnes, Rios, Lukebakio, Sudakov, Schjelderup & Pavlidis
Last five games
- Chelsea 1-0 Benfica
- Benfica 2-1 Gil Vicente
- Benfica 1-1 Rio Ave
- AVS 0-3 Benfica
- Qarabag 2-3 Benfica
Player to watch — Vangelis Pavlidis
Vanvelis Pavlidis endured a cold night against Chelsea in midweek, but with 10 goal continuations in the previous seven games for club and country, the Greek striker will be one to look out for this weekend.
The 26-year-old put Porto to the sword in the most recent O Classico back in April, when he netted a hat-trick to fire Benfica to an emphatic 4-1 victory at the Estadio do Dragao.
Pavlidis have already racked up five goals and two assists in seven Primeira Liga matches this term and will be looking to clinch the Golden Boot, having netted 19 goals to finish second behind Viktor Gyokeres (39) in the scoring chart last season.