Santa Clara vs Benfica Predictions

• Santa Clara have failed to score in their last three games.
• Benfica have kept clean sheets in five of their seven away league games this season, winning four.
• At least three goals have been scored in four of Santa Clara’s last five home league games against the big three.

Santa Clara usually take it to the big three

Santa Clara usually have a good go when one of the Primeira Liga’s big boys come to the Estádio de São Miguel, but they rarely avoid defeat against Benfica.

Jorge Simão’s side have sunk to 16th in the table during a run of seven games without a win. They did manage to stop the rot, however with a 0-0 draw at Portimonense last weekend.

They showed plenty of grit to overcome the loss of right-back Sagna to a red card in the 28th minute. But he will now miss Benfica’s visit to the Azores because of a suspension.

Benfica can benefit if hosts open things up

The visitors will be looking to get back to winning ways after earning a 2-2 draw in the Lisbon derby, coming from behind twice to deny Ruben Amorim’s side. Complacency may be among the reasons why the Eagles have dropped five points in their last three league games, but Roger Schmidt’s men won’t want to let Braga or Porto close the gap further.

The 3-0 defeat at Braga aside, Benfica have been very solid on the road and usually win with a clean sheet, although a glut of goals is not always guaranteed. But Santa Clara’s preference for opening the game up against the bigger clubs should enable Benfica the space to show their quality and multiple goals ought to be within their grasp.

Benfica have won on four of their last five trips to the island, averaging 2.4 goals a game across that run. The hosts could be beaten by two or three goals here with a 3-0 scoreline the narrow preference for correct score backers.

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