AVSvs.Benfica

The home side are at risk of relegation this season and are on a lengthy winless streak, while the visitors are in the hunt to reclaim their Primeira Liga crown from Sporting Lisbon.

Match preview

Vitor Campelos's AVS have earned 11 points from their 13 league games and are currently 15th, two points above Nacional, who occupy the relegation playoff spot in Portugal's top flight.

Heading into Sunday's match, AVS have not won any of their last seven games, and the only win they have registered in their last 10 competitive fixtures was a 2-0 victory in October over Pro Nacional Serie 2 side Sandinenses in the Taca de Portugal.

Last time out on December 8, Campelos's side drew 1-1 with Casa Pia in the league, a match in which AVS needed a 72nd-minute penalty from Gustavo Assuncao to cancel out the early goal they conceded to Joao Goulart.

Most problematic for this weekend's hosts is the fact that they have won just twice this league season, the last of which came in mid-September when they beat Rio Ave 1-0, and since then they have have drawn four and lost four.

On Sunday, Campelos will be desperate to stay above Nacional and the relegation places but will likely have to settle for trying to avoid a repeat of the embarrassing 5-0 home thrashing his side endured against Porto earlier this season.

Meanwhile, Bruno Lage's Benfica are second in the Primeira Liga table with 31 points from their 12 matches so far, two points behind defending champions Sporting Lisbon with a game in hand.

Following Ruben Amorim's move to Manchester United, Lage's side have gained ground on their title rivals and will be looking to keep the pressure up with another win on Sunday.

In stark contrast to AVS, As Aguias have lost just once in the league this term and are currently on an eight-game winning streak in Portugal's top flight, a run that includes a dominant 4-1 win over Porto on November 10.

To add to their impressive season, Benfica boast the best defensive record in the division having conceded just seven goals in 2024-25, and Lage will be looking to keep a third consecutive clean sheet in the league this weekend.

On Sunday, the visitors will face a side that have only scored 10 goals this term, and will feel confident of not only securing all three points, but also keeping the opposition at bay.

AVS Primeira Liga form:

D

L

L

D

L

D

AVS form (all competitions):

L

L

D

L

L

D

Benfica Primeira Liga form:

W

W

W

W

W

W

Benfica form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

D

Team News

AVS will be without midfielder Gustavo Assuncao, who scored the equaliser in last week's draw, due to suspension after he accumulated enough yellow cards for a ban.

However, Jaume Grau and centre-back Jorge Teixeira should be available for selection this weekend after serving their own suspensions last week, though Giorgi Aburjania is not expected to return from his thigh injury until late December at the earliest.

With absentees in midfield, boss Campelos may line up with Luis Silva and Gustavo Mendonca in the middle of the park.

Benfica have also been dealing with absentees due to yellow cards, and talismanic midfielder Orkun Kokcu is expected to return to the starting lineup this weekend after missing the last game, though Alvaro Carreras is suspended and will not be available.

With this in mind, Lage may partner the Turkey international with Florentino Luis in midfield and move Fredrik Aursnes to left-back in place of Carreras.

Elsewhere, forward Tiago Gouveia is still recovering from a shoulder injury, and is not expected back until the end of the month.

AVS possible starting lineup:

Simao; Rodriguez, Castro, Roux; Fonseca, Mendonca, Silva, Afonso; Mercado, Luis, Piazon

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Trubin; Bah, Otamendi, Araujo, Aursnes; Luis, Kokcu; Di Maria, Cabral, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu

We say: AVS 0-3 Benfica

AVS and Benfica come into Sunday's match having had contrasting seasons so far, and the visitors are in drastically superior form.

Written by

Anthony Nolan

Previews by email