This weekend brings a showdown between two sides in the middle of Portugal’s Primeira Liga table when Arouca FC hosts SL Benfica at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca with kickoff at 10 pm.
The Arouquenses are currently at the bottom of the table, while the visitors are one place above them in third, behind title-chasing Porto and reigning champions Sporting Lisbon.
Arouca could not move away from the relegation zone after suffering a disappointing 2-1 loss to Belenenses at the Estadio do Restelo two Sundays ago.
In a game with two bottom sides in the table clashing, Oday Dabbagh gave Al Shabab a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute.
However, O Belem got back into the game with a goal from Nilton Varela in the 73rd minute before Abel Camara clinched a 2-1 win with the last touch.
On the other hand, Benfica’s lack of consistency was evident once again when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Moreirense last time out.
Despite controlling the ball for most of the game, As Aguias failed to convert several clear-cut chances Gilberto scored an own goal in the 65th minute. Four minutes later, Darwin Nunez leveled matters.
Benfica has now won just one of their last four games as they lost to Porto 3-0 on December 23 and were knocked out of the Portuguese Cup.
Arouca vs Benfica Head to Head
Both sides have 12 games against each other with hosts taking 1 wins while opponents with 10 wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Belenenses 2-1 Arouca
- Arouca 0-6 Sporting Braga
- Portimonense 1-1 Arouca
- Arouca 1-4 FC Vizela
- CD Santa Clara 2-1 Arouca
Away
- Benfica 1-1 Moreiense
- SL Benfica 2-0 Pacos de Ferreira
- FC Porto 3-0 Benfica
- Benfica 7-1 Maritimo
- Benfica 3-0 Covilha
Arouca Team News
The Arouca squad has been hit with a few cases of the dreaded COVID-19 virus, with striker Matias Campi and defender Or Dasa falling victim.
Moses Yaw and Fernando Augusto are currently on the club’s injury table with muscle injuries, while Jose Manuel Velazquez has been out of action since September due to a severe knee problem.
Benfica Team News
Meanwhile, Benfica will have to make do without Serbian midfielder Nemanja Radonjic, who has been out of action since sustaining a back injury in November’s Taca de Portugal game against Pacos de Ferreira.
Prediction and Odds
Arouca has found themselves in trouble with the drop, and they need a win against Maritimo to spark a run of good form.
- Benfica Win
- Goals Under 2.5
- Nunez to Score
