Benfica are aiming to snatch the Portuguese Primeira Liga title from leaders Sporting CP on the final day as they travel to Sporting Braga. The visitors have been impressive this season and should get the better of the hosts.
Sporting Braga come into this clash off the back of a 2-1 defeat at Casa Pia last time out in the Primeira Liga. That result extended their winless run to three matches and leaves them fourth in the table.
Carlos Carvalhal’s men are aiming to close out the season with a positive result in front of their fans and are unbeaten in their last nine home matches in all competitions. While they have looked sharp going forward, some improvement is needed at the back having failed to keep a clean sheet in the last three fixtures.
Benfica head into the final day level on 79 points with Sporting CP after battling to a 1-1 home draw last time out. They need a win in Saturday's clash and a better goal difference to win the title.
The visitors are unbeaten in their last 14 Primeira Liga matches, picking up 12 wins in that run. Bruno Lage’s men have also won their last seven away matches in the league but have failed to keep a clean sheet in four fixtures in that run.
How the bookies view it: Benfica highly fancied
The bookies have installed Benfica as overwhelming favourites, with an away win priced at 8/15 with BoyleSports. Braga are considered outsiders at home at 15/4 by BoyleSports, who are also offering odds of 3/1 for a draw.
Head to head: Benfica on top
Benfica have a 44-19 advantage with 14 draws from 77 previous matches against Braga. The visitors have also won the three meetings this season and picked up a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture.
Players to watch: Eyes on attacks
Vengelis Pavlidis has been the shining light for Benfica this season, scoring 18 Primeira Liga goals so far. Kerem Akturkoglu also has 11 league goals this season and both men can combine to produce over 1.5 goals for the visitors.
Sporting Braga can also hold their own going forward and will look to Ricardo Horta, who has 10 goals this season. Amine El Ouazzani also has seven goals this season and both men can ensure the hosts produce over 0.5 goals at 2/5 with BoyleSports.
Probably line-ups
El Ouazzani was a second half substitute for Sporting Braga and could be handed a start on Saturday. The forward should lead the line, with Horta providing support while Sikou Niakate is expected to start in defence.
Andreas Schjelderup came off the bench in the second half against Benfica and could earn a start. Pavlidis should lead the line one again while Antonio Silva is set to feature at the back.
Sporting Braga: Hornicek, Gomez, Oliveira, Niakate, Moutinho, Racic, Fernandes, Salazar, Horta, Navarro
Benfica: Trubin, Fernandez, Otamendi, Silva, Araujo, Kokcu, Florentino, Aursnes, Akturkoglu, Schjelderup, Pavlidis
Anything else catches the eye?
Benfica have scored in both halves in four of their last five matches in all competitions and a repeat is pegged at 6/5 with BoyleSports. They have also won the first half in four of their last five fixtures and could be set to play out a similar outcome at 21/20.
Given the minimal odds for a straight victory, Benfica can be backed to earn a win and both teams to score at 9/5 with BoyleSports.
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