Preview: Benfica vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

Benfica earned their 38th league title last season with 87 points, which was two points better than their opponents in this match, while Porto secured the Portuguese Cup by beating Braga 2-0 in the final back in June.

Match preview

As Aguias were involved in a titanic battle in the league last season with Porto but proved to be the better side, leading the league from matchday four to the end of the campaign and securing the title by two points.

Benfica are the most decorated club in Portugal, but they had performed below their expectations over the last few seasons, and winning the league last season brought an end to a four-year wait which included three third-place finishes and a runners-up medal.

Roger Schmidt's side recorded 28 wins, three draws, and three losses over the course of the season for a tally of 87 points, which equalled the total they managed in their 2018-19 league win when they beat Porto by two points as well.

Last season proved not only to be a good one for Benfica domestically but also in European competition, where they reached the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League before bowing out to the eventual runners-up Inter Milan.

Benfica had the best home record of any side in the league last season with 15 wins in 17 matches on home soil, along with one draw and one loss, though it is worth pointing out that their solitary home defeat was against this opposition.

While Porto found themselves relinquishing the league title to this opponent last season, they did manage to secure two pieces of silverware, which were the Taca de Portugal and this trophy, when they beat Tondela at the start of the season.

Despite Benfica taking the lead in the league early on, Porto refused to go away and stayed in the title race right to the last day of the season, winning each of their last nine league matches while they were unbeaten in their final 12 games.

Sergio Conceicao's side recorded 27 wins, four draws and three losses in their 34 matches, finishing the season seven points clear of Braga in third place and with the second-best defensive record of just 22 goals conceded.

Following their Taca de Portugal victory over Braga, the Dragons played five club friendlies leading up to this encounter and managed two wins, two draws, and one loss, scoring 10 and conceding five in that time.

Having lifted this trophy on 23 occasions, Porto have won this competition more times than Benfica and Sporting combined and will be keen to get one over this opponent early in the season to set a marker down for the rest of the campaign.

Benfica form (all competitions):

Porto form (all competitions):

Team News

Angel Di Maria marked his return to Benfica in fine style, netting a goal in his first match against Basel and then in his second against Al Nassr in the preseason.

Orkun Kokcu recently arrived from Feyenoord and also looked very good in the friendly matches he played and could start in the midfield behind Goncalo Ramos, who bagged 19 goals for As Aguias last term.

Conceicao has just one injury absentee to get the season underway, with Joao Mario still a few weeks away from returning to action after picking up a knee injury in the preseason.

The Dragons have not made many signings in the summer, which means that last season's top scorer Mehdi Taremi could lead the line, though his future at the club is still in some doubt.

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Vlachodimos; Bah, Silva, Otamendi, Jurasek; Kokcu, Aursnes; Di Maria, Silva, Mario; Ramos

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Pepe, Pepe, Marcano, Sanusi; Otavio, Eustaquio, Uribe, Galeno; Taremi, Evanilson

We say: Benfica 2-1 Porto

While Porto have been the dominant side in this encounter over the years, Benfica have added a few world-class players to their ranks over the summer break, which could be a crucial factor this season and potentially in this match as well.

With two attacking sides on display and with it still being early in the campaign, we expect lots of chances to be created in this match by both sides but fancy the league champions to edge it by the odd goal.

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