Preview: Benfica vs. Vitoria de Guimaraes - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, have made an impressive start to the campaign, winning all three matches, ensuring they head to Lisbon with a 100% record.

Match preview

After ending a four-year wait for the Primeira Liga trophy, Benfica made a shaky start to their title defence, suffering a surprise 3-2 defeat to Boavista in the opening game of the season.

The champions quickly issued a response in their second league game, dispatching newly-promoted Estrela via a 2-0 scoreline to get their league campaign up and running.

Three more points followed last weekend, as goals from Angel Di Maria, Rafa Silva and Petar Musa guided Benfica to a narrow 3-2 away win over Gil Vicente.

Despite claiming maximum points, Schmidt would have been disappointed to see his side concede a minimum of two goals in a game for the second time in the club's opening three league matches.

While their defensive fragility may be cause for concern, Benfica will draw inspiration from their head-to-head record against Guimaraes, having avoided defeat in their last 22 league meetings (W19, D3).

Guimaraes have coped with uncertainty surrounding the club's managerial position to claim maximum points from their opening three games.

A 1-0 win over Estrele was followed by Moreno's resignation, ensuring Os Vimaranenses went into their home game against Gil Vicente without a permanent head coach.

That did not prove to be a problem for Guimaraes, who claimed a narrow 2-1 victory prior to Paulo Turra's appointment as manager.

The new boss continued the club's promising start, overseeing a 2-0 victory in his opening game against Vizela courtesy of goals from Andre Silva and Joao Mendes.

Alongside Porto and Sporting Lisbon, Guimaraes are one of three teams yet to drop a point in the top flight this season, suggesting they may have the quality to trouble Benfica, as they look to claim a league win over Saturday's opponents for the first time since February 2012.

Benfica Primeira Liga form:

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W

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Benfica form (all competitions):

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Vitoria de Guimaraes Primeira Liga form:

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Vitoria de Guimaraes form (all competitions):

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Team News

David Jurasek remains sidelined for the hosts, as he continues to recover from an ankle problem which has kept him out of the last two games.

After coming off the bench to score late on against Gil Vicente, Musa could be rewarded with a place in the starting lineup.

Goncalo Guedes has rejoined Benfica on a season-long loan deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and he is expected to feature among the substitutes.

As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon the services of summer signings Telmo Arcanjo and Ricardo Mangas.

Afonso Freitas is a doubt after being forced off in the first half of Sunday's win over Vizela, and he will be replaced by Nelson Luz if he is unable to feature against Benfica.

After receiving a red card four minutes into his debut, Nuno Santos will miss Saturday's encounter through suspension.

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Soares; Bah, Otamendi, A. Silva, Aursnes; Kokcu, Florentino; Di Maria, Rafa Silva, Joao Mario; Musa

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:

Varela; Fernandes, Manu, Villanueva; Gaspar, T. Silva, Handel, Mendes, Luz; A. Silva, J. Silva

We say: Benfica 2-1 Vitoria de Guimaraes

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