Estoril Praia will be hoping to finish their campaign on a respectable note when they welcome title-chasing Benfica to the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota this weekend.
However, the stakes are much higher for the visitors, who remain locked in a neck-and-neck battle with Sporting Lisbon for the crown, with only three games remaining in the Primeira Liga season.
Match preview
Benfica enter the weekend tied on 75 points with their cross-town rivals but sit second due to an inferior goal difference of minus three, a detail that leaves them with little margin for error.
Bruno Lage‘s side made an emphatic attempt to bridge that gap by dispatching AVS 6-0 last weekend, but Sporting responded with a five-goal victory of their own at Boavista, keeping the Eagles in second place for now.
Nonetheless, there is no questioning the level at which Benfica have operated in recent weeks, having won 11 of their last 12 league matches and racked up at least three goals in 10 of those.
Their attacking intent will once again be central to their approach this weekend as they aim to pile pressure on Sporting by running up the numbers against an Estoril backline that has conceded the second most goals among teams above the relegation playoff spot (49).
Recent history offers encouragement for the visitors, who have triumphed in each of their last six league meetings with the Canaries, scoring three in the most recent two, although their last visit to the Coimbra da Mota ended in a narrow 1-0 win.
Benfica have also taken maximum points in each of their last six away matches in the top flight and boast 32 points from a possible 45 on the road, making them the third-best travelling side in the division.
As for Estoril, their primary task of survival has long been secured, and they now shift focus to closing the season with pride, even if their hopes of a late push for Europe are all but extinguished.
Ian Cathro‘s men currently sit eighth on 42 points, nine behind fifth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes, and will need a perfect run coupled with favours elsewhere to even dream of sneaking into the final continental spot.
Estoril did produce a positive response last time out with a 3-1 victory away at Casa Pia, halting a run of two defeats in which they failed to find the net, but consistency has eluded them in recent weeks.
The Canaries have recorded just two victories from their last eight league matches, both of which came on the road, while they appear to be struggling for inspiration at home, where they are winless in three.
After being held to a draw on their patch by Farense, Estoril suffered defeats against Braga and FC Porto in that stretch, with the odds appearing stacked against the hosts this weekend as another top-four side strolls into town.
Team News
Xeka remains a doubt for Estoril due to injury, while Jordan Holsgrove is suspended, meaning Cathro may be forced to pair Vinicius Zanocelo with Tiago Brito in central midfield.
Wagner Pina is unavailable after receiving a red card last time out, paving the way for Pedro Carvalho to feature on the right side of the backline with Pedro Amaral likely to slot in on the opposite flank.
Alejandro Marques came off the bench to find the net and will now compete with Andre Lacximicant for the central attacking berth on Saturday.
As for the visitors, Alexander Bah, Manu Silva and Renato Sanches remain sidelined through injury, while Angel Di Maria is a doubt and could be limited to a cameo off the bench.
Alvaro Carreras is suspended after accumulating too many bookings, opening the door for Samuel Dahl to stake his claim for a start.
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Chamorro; Bacher, Boma, Alvaro; Amaral, Brito, Zanocelo, Carvalho; Guitane, Marques, Carvalho
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Dahl, Silva, Otamendi, Araujo; Florentino, Kokcu; Aktukoglu, Aursnes, Amdouni; Pavlidis
We say: Estoril Praia 1-4 Benfica
Benfica arrive brimming with confidence, with intent on a commanding performance, and considering their explosive attacking rhythm in recent weeks, such an outcome appears well within reach.
However, Estoril might still sneak one past the visitors given they have scored in six of their last seven outings on home soil, even if they drew a blank in the most recent.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
