Preview: Benfica vs AVS – prediction, team news, lineups

Benfica will look to place their controversy-laden conflict in midweek behind them as they flip their focus to Saturday’s Primeira Liga encounter with basement aspect AVS on the Estadio da Luz.

The Eagles suffered a 1–0 defeat in Tuesday’s fiercely contested first leg against Real Madrid of their Champions League knockout playoff, two days after this weekend’s guests from Vila das Aves secured their first prime-flight victory of the marketing campaign.

Match preview

Understandably, Benfica’s assembly with Real Madrid was by no means going to be wanting speaking factors, notably after Jose Mourinho guided his aspect to a dramatic victory over his former membership three weeks in the past to clinch one of many remaining qualification spots on the expense of the Galacticos’ prime-eight ambitions.

Tuesday’s contest on the Estadio da Luz reached boiling level when Vinicius Junior’s objective celebration appeared to impress a response from sections of the house assist and the Eagles’ gamers, with Gianluca Prestianni on the centre of the controversy because the match was briefly halted following allegations that he directed a racial slur in the direction of the Brazilian ahead.

While investigations are set to comply with relating to what was stated in that second, Benfica have publicly backed Prestianni, and with one eye on overturning their deficit in subsequent week’s second leg in Spain, the Lisbon outfit should now refocus absolutely on home duties as they intention to construct on their latest league momentum.

Last weekend’s 2–1 victory at Santa Clara marked a fifth win in six prime-flight outings in 2026 (D1), extending the Eagles’s unbeaten run within the competitors to 37 matches (W27, D10), courting again to their defeat towards Casa Pia on matchday 19 final season.

That exceptional stretch leaves Benfica as the one aspect but to style defeat within the league this time period, and that consequence additionally strengthened their place within the title race — though the Reds stay third within the Primeira Liga table — with the hole to the summit and to second place trimmed to seven and three factors, respectively.

While victory on Saturday would additional reinforce their cost, the Eagles will strategy the competition with a measure of warning; regardless of successful seven of their 11 house league matches this season (D4), they’ve dropped factors towards sides at present battling for survival, drawing with Santa Clara, Casa Pia and Rio Ave.

© Imago / ZUMA Press Wire

Meanwhile, AVS will take confidence from securing their first league victory of the season, having thrashed in-kind Estoril Praia 3–0 on the Estadio do CD Aves final weekend courtesy of second-half strikes from Diego Duarte, Tomane and Angel Algobia.

That encounter additionally delivered Joao Henriques’s first win since his appointment in December after eight earlier outings with out success (D2, L6), although the consequence does little to ease their precarious place.

The Vila das Aves outfit stay rooted to the foot of the desk, a whopping 12 factors adrift of security, having scored simply 18 occasions — the third fewest within the division — whereas conceding a league-excessive 54.

Thirty-one of these shipped objectives have come on the highway, the place AVS have misplaced eight of their 10 Primeira Liga away fixtures this season, a file that doesn’t encourage confidence, notably for a aspect crushed in three of their earlier 4 conferences with Benfica (D1), conceding 9 throughout the final two encounters with out reply.

 

Benfica Primeira Liga kind:

Benfica kind (all competitions):

AVS Primeira Liga kind:

AVS kind (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago / Atlantico Press

Benfica shall be with out Prestianni, who picked up his fifth reserving of the Primeira Liga marketing campaign at Santa Clara final weekend and can serve a suspension.

There is, nonetheless, an possibility on the suitable wing, with Dodi Lukebakio getting back from an ankle damage in a short cameo towards Madrid, although it stays to be seen if he’s absolutely match to begin. 

Richard Rios additionally made an look off the bench in that very same encounter, whereas Alexander Bah was named as an unused substitute following his restoration from an extended-time period damage, although goalkeeper Samuel Soares stays sidelined with a muscle drawback.

For AVS, their latest victory over Estoril got here at a value, with midfielder Pedro Lima compelled off, making his participation on this fixture unsure. 

Antoine Baroan will miss a 3rd consecutive match with a damaged leg, and proper-again Guillem Molina stays out with a fibular damage.

 

Benfica attainable beginning lineup:

Trubin; Banjaqui, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Barreiro; Aursnes, Rafa Silva, Sudakov; Pavlidi

AVS attainable beginning lineup:

Adriel; Devenish, Paulo Vitor, Rivas; Mendonca, Algobia, Roni, Pedro Lima, Akinsola; Duarte, Tomane

We say: Benfica 3-0 AVS

Despite AVS’ latest win, they’re anticipated to wrestle towards a Benfica aspect trying to reignite their title problem. 

The Eagles’s 6-0 triumph the final time they hosted this fixture hints at one other comfy victory for the hosts towards defensively susceptible guests.

For information evaluation of the probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.