Benfica vs Academico Viseu Predictions

• Benfica have scored 16 goals in their last three games, all at home
• Viseu conceded three or more goals in two of their final seven away games last season
• Viseu have not played top-flight football in 38 years

Eagles look to strong for top-flight novices

Benfica can build on their three recent goal-laden home wins with another against Academico Viseu at Estadio da Luz on Sunday. The Eagles have sparked into life in the last few games after beginning the campaign with an away defeat against St Gallen.

Marco Silva’s side smashed the Swiss side 5-0 in the return leg in between a 5-1 friendly win over Belenenses and a 6-1 hammering of Hearts in Europa League qualifying this week. The Eagles have all the momentum coming into this opening Primeira Liga clash of the season against a side making their top-flight return after a 38-year absence.

Bruno Pinheiro’s men finished second in Liga 2 last season, gaining automatic promotion thanks to their superior goal difference. They conceded 33 times in 34 games in the lower tier and have a squad that features only four players who know what it’s like to play in the top league of Portuguese football.

Goals galore possible for hosts

A couple of attacking signings this week should prove very useful if they are to stay up, but taking anything back from Lisbon this weekend looks highly unlikely. Benfica have won eight of their last 10 home league games and drew the other two against Porto and Braga, who finished first and fourth last season.

There is little value in backing the hosts to win and it may seem too risky to back them on the -2 handicap given Os Viriatos held Celta Vigo to a 2-2 draw in pre-season. However, the Spanish side were way behind Pinheiro’s team in terms of preparation and still needed some good saves and goalline clearances to keep it close.

Back Benfica to score three or more goals at around 4/6, which should be well within their scope given the form of Vangelis Pavlidis, Rafa Silva and Jhon Duran. A 3-1 victory may be on the cards if they play like they did against Hearts, who opened them up once with a lovely move.