Benfica take on the visitors Estoril in the round 15 match of Liga Portugal. The match will be played on Monday, December 23rd at Estádio da Luz (Lisbon).
Benfica reclaimed the Portuguese championship title in 2023. That season also saw them excel in the UEFA Champions League, where they advanced to the knockout stages and performed admirably. It was no surprise that Roger Schmidt, the architect of these successes, kept his position despite a disappointing 2023/2024 campaign, during which the league title slipped away to local rivals Sporting. However, a poor start to the current season led to Schmidt’s dismissal. His replacement, Bruno Lage, has quickly steadied the ship. Under Lage, Benfica has regained form, securing 10 points from six Champions League matches and reigniting the title race in Portugal, especially as Sporting faltered after losing manager Rúben Amorim. Despite a recent setback—a 1-1 draw against ABC—the team bounced back with a midweek victory over Nacional.
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Estoril Praia: modest performers once again. The Canaries, who reached the UEFA Europa League group stages twice in the last decade, have since struggled for consistency. Following a relegation battle and eventual stabilization, they finished last season in 13th place. This season mirrors those struggles. Estoril has managed only a handful of victories—against Nacional (their first win of the season in mid-September), Arouca, and Famalicão. Nonetheless, they’ve also avoided excessive defeats, allowing them to hover above the relegation zone. However, their recent performance—a 0-2 loss at home to Casa Pia—highlighted their ongoing vulnerabilities.
Benfica has dominated this fixture, winning six of the last seven meetings. However, Estoril pulled off a shocking upset in early 2024, eliminating Benfica from the League Cup semi-finals on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time.
Prediction for the match: Benfica to win with -2.5 handicap.
