Arouca vs Benfica Predictions

• Benfica have won seven of their nine Primeira Liga away games this season, averaging 2.3 goals per game.
• Benfica have won their last seven head-to-head meetings with Arouca
• Arouca are smarting from a bitter semi-final defeat while Benfica had the weekend off

Arouca must forget bitter loss quickly

Benfica can extend their lead at the top of the Primeira Liga table with a road victory over Arouca on Tuesday evening. The Eagles have rediscovered their rhythm in the last couple of games, winning away at Santa Clara and Pacos Ferreira while enjoying a break from midweek action.

Roger Schmidt’s side are not quite the attacking monster they were in the early part of the season, but they still control games well and rarely look in trouble at the back. This trip to sixth-placed Arouca comes a few days after the hosts’ bitter Taca da Liga semi-final defeat to Sporting Lisbon.

Armando Evangelista’s side felt wronged by the officiating team and will need to get that out of their system quickly.

Eagles get out in front early – and usually stay there

Arouca have had some eye-catching home results this season, including a 1-0 league win over Sporting, but Benfica have not lost to them since 2015 – winning each of the last seven head-to-head contests.

The Eagles are taken to win this in their usual fashion, by getting in front of their opponents early and staying there. Six of their last eight league goals have been scored in the first half and five have come inside the first 16 minutes.

So it looks worth taking the odds boost about Benfica leading at half-time and full-time while a 2-0 correct score play to match their recent win at Pacos Ferreira is advisable too. They have won seven of their nine away league games this season and average 2.3 goals a game on the road.

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