Preview: Benfica vs. Casa Pia - prediction, team news, lineups

Meanwhile, Roger Schmidt's side will be looking to secure a fourth consecutive victory as they prepare for next week's highly-anticipated Taca de Portugal quarter-final clash against Braga.

Match preview

Benfica continued their charge to their first league title since the 2018-19 campaign as they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Arouca when the sides squared off last Tuesday.

In a one-sided affair at the Estádio Municipal de Arouca, Portugal international Joao Mario turned in a superb individual performance as he struck twice to hand the hosts a comfortable lead before Petar Musa put the icing on the cake with an 80th-minute strike.

Schmidt's side are now unbeaten in six consecutive matches across all competitions, claiming one draw and five wins, including a 2-0 victory over Segunda Liga side Varzim in the Taca de Portugal on January 10.

With 50 points from 19 matches, As Aguias currently sit at the top of the Primeira Liga standings, with an eight-point lead over second-placed Porto, who have one game in hand.

Benfica's impressive charge for their first league title in four years has been owing to the solid job done at both ends of the pitch, as they boast the division's best attacking record with 48 goals scored, while they have shipped just 12 so far this season.

Casa Pia, on the other hand, returned to winning ways last time out when they saw off a resilient Santa Clara side 2-1 at the National Sports Center of Jamor.

Following an uneventful first half, Gabriel Silva converted his 82nd-minute penalty to cancel out Yuki Soma's 75th-minute opener but the Japan international set up Clayton in the fourth minute of stoppage time to sink Os Acoreanos.

Prior to that, Filipe Martins's men saw their three-game unbeaten run come to an end on January 16 when they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Estoril Praia before falling a 3-1 loss to Casa Praia six days later.

With 30 points from 18 matches, Os Gansos are currently fifth in the league standings, three points above sixth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes just outside the Europa Conference League qualifying places.

Casa Pia, who have enjoyed a solid return to the top flight, head into the weekend as the fourth-best side on the road in the Primeira Liga — only behind Benfica, Braga and Porto — and will look to pick up their sixth away victory in eight matches.

Benfica Primeira Liga form:

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Benfica form (all competitions):

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Casa Pia Primeira Liga form:

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Casa Pia form (all competitions):

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Team News

Benfica lost World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea in a British-record transfer and the we expect an unchanged midfield pivot of Chiquinho and Florentino Luis for the second consecutive game.

On the injury front, As Aguias will take to the pitch without Portuguese starlet Goncalo Ramos, who is currently recuperating from a muscle problem.

Fellow strike partner Rafa Silva has also missed the last three matches through a muscle issue and the 29-year-old will play no part in Saturday's game.

Soma, who recently completed a loan switch from Japanese outfit Nagoya Grampus Eight, turned in a performance of the highest quality off the bench against Santa Clara last time out and the 25-year-old winger could be rewarded with a starting role on Saturday.

Leo Natel is currently recuperating from injury, too, and is out of contention for the trip to Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica.

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Vlachodimos; Bah, Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Luis; Chiquinho, Mario, Aursnes, Campos; Guedes

Casa Pia possible starting lineup:

Batista; Varela, Nunes, Zolotic, Soares; Taira, Cuca, Poloni; Godwin, Soma, Martins

We say: Benfica 3-0 Casa Pia

Casa Pia face the stern challenge of squaring off against a rampant Benfica side who are currently firing on all cylinders. As Aguias are unbeaten on home soil this season and, given the gulf in experience and quality between the two sides, we are backing them to ease to a comfortable victory on Saturday.

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