Santa Clara vs Benfica – Betting Preview
Santa Clara enters its match against Benfica this weekend from a defensive position in the Primeira Liga standings.
If they were to lose again this weekend, Simao’s team may find themselves even closer to the relegation zone at the end of the current round of Portuguese top-flight games!
Santa Clara Preview
Santa Clara has only won twice at the Estadio de Sao Miguel, running the risk of returning to Liga Portugal 2 for the first time since 2019.
The San Sebastian-based team has conceded more goals than its angry supporters have had the pleasure of seeing this season, and they have not won in three league games going back to mid-November.
In their past three Primeira Liga games, Santa Clara has lost twice, first to relegation rivals Gil Vicente by a score of 1-0 on December 29 and then to Braga, one of Benfica’s current championship rivals, by a score of 4-0 at the Estadio de Sao Miguel the following week.
However, despite playing much of the game with a numerical disadvantage due to defender Pierre Sagna’s dismissal in the first 45 minutes, the hosts somewhat regained momentum at Portimonense on Sunday, resulting in a 0-0 draw.
Benfica Preview
Benfica, who are at the other end of the rankings, have been unstoppable this season with just one blip in their quest to reassert their dominance over Portuguese football.
Roger Schmidt’s team, which has gone undefeated in all but one of its games this season, has racked up an impressive total of 16 away points out of a possible 21.
Since 2009–10, Benfica has consistently competed on the continental stage. They are nearly assured to join the elite of European football and will be in the running to win their first top-flight Portuguese championship since the 2018–19 season.
It will take a determined effort from Santa Clara to halt the Eagles’ ascent to the top of the Primeira Liga mountain after a league-high 13 victories and the joint-highest amount of goals (40).
The Eagles make the journey to the Estadio de Sao Miguel unbeaten in their last four meetings between the two sides!
1×2 Betting Odds
We predict that Benfica will prevail and take home another three points at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Saturday night after amassing 41 points from 16 games this season!
And the market agrees, as two team from the opposite ends of the table are set to meet!
So despite playing at home, Santa Clara are not the favourites to win here @ 12.00.
Benfica have gone undefeated in all but one game, while picking up 16 out of 21 away points! They are in a red hot form, and they are also massive favourites to win this one @ 1.32.
The possibility of a draw and points shared, stands @ 5.55.
Total goals over/under
The odds that the total number of goals scored will be over 2.5, stands @ 1.67.
While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 2.32.
The gulf of difference between the two sides is quite frankly massive, and the market expects the travelling Benfica side to win, and win big against 16th placed Santa Clara!
