Saturday's Primeira Liga predictions including Benfica vs. Santa Clara

Casa Pia vs. Moreirense (Saturday, 3.30pm)

Casa Pia host Moreirense at Estadio Pina Manique in Saturday's Primeira Liga action, keen to record consecutive victories in the gameweek five encounter.

The hosts notched their first success of the new season before the hiatus and aim to build on notching maximum points against their wobbling visitors.

We say: Casa Pia 1-2 Moreirense

Despite Casa Pia's marginal success over struggling Estrela before the international break, Moreirense are backed to return to winning ways this weekend, keen to bounce back from dropping points to superior opposition before the pause and exploit Casapianos' soft underbelly.

AVS vs. Rio Ave (Saturday, 6.00pm)

AVS could leapfrog Rio Ave in the Primeira Liga table if they win Saturday's gameweek five fixture at Estadio Clube Desportivo das Aves.

The hosts' first taste of top-flight football has brought mixed results, although they notched a success in their last home match and look to avoid defeat in front of their supporters for a third game running.

We say: AVS 1-1 Rio Ave

Excluding this season's expected losses to Sporting and Porto, Rio Ave have typically found ways to avoid losing on their travels despite the failure to win on the road in 2023-24.

Having played out six consecutive draws to end the previous campaign, another stalemate is likely against an AVS side that have been hard to play against on their turf.

Famalicao vs. Gil Vicente (Saturday, 8.30pm)

Famalicao aim to respond to their Primeira Liga loss before the international break when they host Gil Vicente in Saturday's round five fixture at Estadio Municipal de Famalicao.

Fama held a 100% record before coming unstuck at Vitoria Guimaraes, and they strive to secure maximum points against an opponent that has a solitary win in four.

We say: Famalicao 1-0 Gil Vicente

Conclusions cannot be drawn from Famalicao winning two on the trot on their turf — having triumphed in fewer than half of 17 home games last season (six wins, six draws and five defeats) — due to the small sample size.

One thing that has stayed the same is Gil Vicente's wretched away record — they lost 12 on the road in 2023-24, drawing two and notching two victories — and have followed that with a 3-0 loss and goalless encounter this term, leaving little choice but to back Fama for a marginal success.

Benfica vs. Santa Clara (Saturday, 8.30pm)

Benfica hope to move on from their early-season turmoil when they host Santa Clara at Estadio da Luz in Saturday's Primeira Liga gameweek five match.

Dropping five points from 12 saw Roger Schmidt get the heave-ho and Bruno Lage return to the club, the latter keen to steady the ship and possibly challenge for the title he won in the 2018-19 season.

We say: Benfica 2-1 Santa Clara

While Santa Clara have already shown their goalscoring threat since returning to the big time, facing Benfica on the road is a different challenge despite the Eagles' managerial change. Thus, we are backing Lage for a marginal win on his return to the Stadium of Light.