Preview: Gil Vicente vs. Benfica - prediction, team news, lineups

While the Eagles ended their winless run by edging out Estoril last weekend, their lowly hosts are without a win in six matches.

Match preview

Having let their pursuers back into contention with a recent dip in form, Benfica will have to fight for the Portuguese title over the coming weeks, as Porto trail them by just four points and Braga are only two further behind.

As well as seeing a brilliant run in Europe curtailed at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League, Roger Schmidt's side have stumbled in the Primeira Liga - just as it seemed they would end the club's four-year silverware drought.

After back-to-back domestic defeats were followed by their European exit to Italian giants Inter Milan, Benfica at least got back on track with a 1-0 win over Estoril last time out.

In front of a packed Estadio da Luz, Joao Mario blew the chance to secure a lead from the penalty spot, but captain Nicolas Otamendi then produced what proved to be the winning goal with a header just before the break.

As Schmidt has already acknowledged that the Eagles cannot afford to drop any more points during the run-in, their trip to Barcelos this week will have similarly high stakes.

In addition to facing a potentially decisive clash with Braga at the start of next month, the Lisbon derby against Sporting Lisbon is also on the horizon, and allowing their capital-city rivals to spoil the title party would be unthinkable for Benfica's young squad.

Back in November, Gil Vicente suffered a 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture against Benfica, and their chances of avoiding another loss to the Primeira Liga leaders on Saturday seem slim given recent results.

Though they toppled Porto earlier this year, the Gilistas have posted four loses and two draws from their last six outings, leaving them 14th in the table and unlikely to achieve a top-half finish.

Following their 1-0 reverse to Braga a week earlier, Daniel Sousa's side were beaten by the same scoreline at Portimonense last Sunday; in the process allowing their mid-table rivals to leapfrog them in the standings.

The source of their struggles is certainly no secret, as they have scored just once since their win over Maritimo at the start of March - and not at all during their last five games.

Such a streak could even threaten Gil Vicente's top-flight place if they cannot recover their composure in the final third, though a nine-point buffer to the relegation playoff place should still be enough to see them over the line.

Gil Vicente Primeira Liga form:

L

L

D

D

L

L

Benfica Primeira Liga form:

W

W

W

L

L

W

Benfica form (all competitions):

W

L

L

L

D

W

Team News

After Roger Schmidt tinkered with his starting lineup last week, bringing in Fredrik Aursnes at right-back for Gilberto and offering 18-year-old Joao Neves his full debut in midfield, he may return to a more familiar XI on Saturday evening.

Florentino Luis could replace Neves alongside Chiquinho, though David Neres will expect to keep his place on the wing after providing an assist for Nicolas Otamendi's decisive goal.

After Petar Musa's Champions League strike against Inter a few days earlier, the Croatian impressed as a second-half replacement for Goncalo Ramos up front; however, he could be restricted to another cameo role.

Alexander Bah and Julian Draxler remain sidelined by injury for the visitors. Gil Vicente, meanwhile, will be without Ali Alipour and goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk this weekend.

As Daniel Sousa seeks to solve his team's goalscoring problems, wingers Marlon and Murilo could make way for either Kevin Villodres or Bilel Aouacheria, but top scorer Fran Navarro leads the line once again - the hosts' Spanish striker scored from the spot against Benfica earlier this season and also in their 2-1 win over Porto.

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:

Andrew; Carraca, Araujo, Fernandes, Marin; Carvalho, Aburjania; Aouacheria, Fujimoto, Murilo; Navarro

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Florentino, Chiquinho; Neres, Silva, Mario; Ramos

We say: Gil Vicente 0-2 Benfica

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