Desportivo Aves vs Benfica Predictions

• Aves have lost four of their last five matches without scoring.
• Benfica have kept 16 clean sheets in the Primeira Liga this term.
• Both teams have scored in only 13 of Aves’s 32 league fixtures this season.

Benfica missed out on title but still firm favourites for this contest

Benfica’s erratic form since the return of the Portuguese Primeira Liga saw them give up the title to FC Porto but even on an off day they should be able to overpower basement boys Aves.

Benfica have won three, drawn three and lost two of their last eight matches in the Portuguese top flight but are assured of second spot regardless of their remaining results.

But they will want to finish the season strongly and Aves should represent a straightforward win given that they have won only five of their 32 league victories this term, netting a paltry 24 goals in the process – the lowest goals scored tally in the division.

Aves struggles magnified against league’s elite

They have been especially shot-shy against the division’s stronger outfits, losing without scoring to Braga, Sporting Lisbon twice and FC Porto and Aves have failed to score in a divisional-high 16 of their 32 league assignments this season.

That points towards a low-scoring encounter and our match prediction is a Benfica win to nil.

Only league winners Porto (19) have kept more clean sheets than Benfica (16) this campaign with the capital club having recorded shutouts in four of their last seven league victories against Vitoria Guimaraes, Gil Vicente, Pacos de Ferreira and Sporting Lisbon.

Defensive stability key for Benfica

Under the stewardship of Bruno Lage, who has since resigned and been replaced by manager Nelson Verissimo, Benfica have stuck with a similar rearguard for much of the season with youngsters Ruben Dias and Ferro forming a superb partnership through the centre of their defence.

That has translated to only 25 goals conceded in their 32 league contests this season and it should not take much to keep tabs on an Aves attack who have scored once in their previous nine encounters.

Benfica have also been superb on their travels this season – winning 11 of their 16 away matches and having an identical away record to champions Porto even in terms of goals scored (29) and goals conceded (13).

They can run out comprehensive winners and in terms of a correct score prediction, Benfica have won by a two-goal margin on seven occasions this season and prevailed by a 2-0 scoreline against Vitoria Guimaraes, Pacos de Ferreira, Sporting Lisbon, Rio Ave, Gil Vicente and Belenenses this campaign so that could be the best bet at the Estadio do CD Aves.