Benficavs.Moreirense

The hosts are four points behind league leaders Sporting Lisbon, albeit Sporting do have a game in hand, while the visitors are in sixth place, 13 points behind the European places and 17 points above the relegation zone.

Match preview

After winning the title last year, Roger Schmidt is looking to make it back-to-back league titles this season as they try to hunt down current league leaders Sporting Lisbon.

Benfica have been second best in the Primeira Liga for the majority of the campaign to rivals Sporting, who have dropped points on just four occasions this season, in the form of two draws and two losses.

While the hosts are still firmly in the title race, last weekend's 2-1 defeat to the leaders, after conceding in the first minute and stoppage time, saw the gap between first and second place increase to four points, with Ruben Amorim's side also having a game in hand over Benfica.

That was Benfica's second loss in the league in their last five outings, enduring a 5-0 battering by Porto at the beginning of March.

They are now set to face a difficult run in to the end of the season, coming up against top nine sides in five of their final six games, leaving them with a tough task if they are to catch Sporting and win the title for consecutive years.

As for Moreirense, they have had a brilliant first season back in the top flight after being promoted from Liga Portugal 2 as Champions last campaign.

Rui Borges's side are sixth in the table heading into this one, but with them trailing the European places by 13 points with just six matches left to play, they have very little chance of making it into the top five.

Moreirense will still be looking to finish their first year back in the Primeira Liga as the best of the rest though, and they are currently three points better off than seventh-placed Arouca.

Recent results have been incredibly inconsistent for the visitors, failing to win back-to-back games since November as they have gone on to lose six and win five of their last 13 matches.

Benfica Primeira Liga form:

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Benfica form (all competitions):

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Moreirense Primeira Liga form:

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Team News

The hosts are coming into this game with two players set to miss out.

Juan Bernat joined Benfica on loan in the summer window but was only able to make six appearances before suffering an injury, while he made a return to the bench at the end of March, he remains out with reports of physical discomfort for this one.

Key player Fredrik Aursnes will also be unavailable for this game after the Norwegian was sent off in the 98th minute of their 2-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon last weekend.

Moreirense will be without Hernani Infande and Jeremy Antonisse due to injury.

Borges's men will be boosted by the return of Brazilian midfielder Alan, who served a suspension in Moreirense's last game after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Vitoria SC.

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Trubin; Bah, Silva, Otamendi, Morato; Neves, Mario; Neres, Kokcu, Gouveia; Cabral

Moreirense possible starting lineup:

Kewin; Fabiano, Ponck, Maracas, Frimpong; Franco, Alan, Castro; Kodisang, Mingotti, Camacho

We say: Benfica 2-1 Moreirense

Benfica will be coming into this one looking to bounce back after a disappointing stoppage-time defeat to title rivals Sporting Lisbon, and they are yet to lose at home this season.

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