Estrela vs Benfica Prediction 16.08.2025
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Estrela vs Benfica Prediction
Estrela vs Benfica Prediction and Betting Tips for the 2025-26 Liga Portugal opener on Saturday at Estadio Jose Gomes. The Eagles enter fresh from a Champions League qualifying victory over Nice and will be aiming to extend their impressive head-to-head record against Estrela. In this article, you’ll discover Liga Portugal Predictions from our XpertStats team of analysts.
- Benfica kick off their Liga Portugal campaign after advancing in the Champions League qualifiers.
- Estrela looking to end a poor home run after six defeats in nine league matches at Estadio Jose Gomes.
- Head-to-head history strongly favours Benfica, who have won their last six league meetings with Estrela.
- Key absences for both sides, including Estrela coach Jose Faria due to suspension.
Benfica arrive with a spring in their step. Bruno Lage’s side has yet to concede a goal this season, following up their Super Cup win over Sporting with back-to-back 2-0 victories against Nice. It’s not just the clean sheets that stand out, their attacking movement looks sharp, with Andreas Schjelderup in particular showing signs of a breakout year. Can they carry that same ruthless edge into their domestic opener? The numbers suggest they can. Six straight league wins over Estrela, scoring three or more in four of those, paint a clear picture.
Still, it’s not all sunshine for the Lisbon giants. Injuries to Bruma, Manu Silva, Alexander Bah, and Tomas Araujo limit rotation options, while the schedule is already piling up. That said, Rafael Obrador could get his debut, and fringe players like Florentino Luis and Gianluca Prestianni may relish a chance to impress. Benfica’s depth, even with absences, is a luxury Estrela simply can’t match right now.
For the hosts, there’s a mix of hope and frustration. Estrela’s 1-1 draw at Estoril last weekend snapped a three-game losing streak, with Ianis Stoica’s goal offering a glimpse of attacking life. But home form has been a glaring weakness: just one win in their last nine league games at Estadio Jose Gomes, with five matches in that run failing to produce a single goal. To make matters worse, coach Jose Faria will watch from the stands after his red card in the season opener. That’s hardly ideal when you’re up against one of the league’s most organised sides.
Even so, Estrela can point to last season’s 3-2 loss to Benfica here as proof they can make it a contest. They fought back from two goals down that day, giving the home fans something to cheer despite defeat. Whether they can produce that same spirit against a Benfica team already in competitive rhythm is another question entirely. This feels like a big ask and maybe too big, but football has a funny way of surprising us. For now, the momentum sits firmly with the visitors, making them strong favourites to open with a statement win in their hunt for the title.
Benfica (-1.5) looks appealing given the gulf in quality and recent history between these sides. The Eagles have won their last six league meetings with Estrela, scoring at least three goals in four of them. Bruno Lage’s men arrive unbeaten in their first three matches of the season, all without conceding, and have shown sharpness in attack through Andreas Schjelderup and Vangelis Pavlidis. Estrela, meanwhile, ended last season just two points above the relegation playoff and began this campaign with a draw at Estoril, extending their home woes to six defeats in nine league games at Estadio Jose Gomes. Key absences, including coach Jose Faria’s suspension, further weaken the hosts. Benfica’s defensive stability, combined with their ability to score in bursts, suggests they can win by a margin of two or more. History, form, and squad depth all point toward a comfortable away victory for the Lisbon giants.
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