- 1 Benfica vs Estoril Praia: a long-awaited return to Estadio da Luz after two weeks without league football
- 2 Benfica on a run of three straight wins and through in Europe
- 3 Estoril Praia stuck in an 11-game winless run
- 4 Liga Portugal prediction Benfica vs Estoril Praia
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Benfica vs Estoril Praia: a long-awaited return to Estadio da Luz after two weeks without league football 
Benfica are back in Liga Portugal on Monday 31 August after 15 days without a domestic game. Kick-off is set for 20:15 Lisbon time, which is 21:15 in France.
Estoril Praia visit Estadio da Luz, the 68,100-seater where the Eagles opened the season with a draw against promoted Academico de Viseu.
Their third-round trip to Moreirense was postponed because of European congestion, so Benfica have only played two league matches so far and collected four points.
The early table has Marco Silva and his side in seventh, with nine goals scored and two conceded. That record tells you more about their start than the actual position does.
Estoril Praia arrive with just one point from three games and sitting 17th. Vasco Matos, who took charge on 8 July, is still chasing his first win.
The head-to-head record does not make for much suspense: Benfica have won the last nine league meetings between the two clubs. Both games last season ended 3-1.
So the real question tonight is not who wins. It is how big the gap will be, and how hard Benfica want to push before they head back into European action.
Benfica on a run of three straight wins and through in Europe 
Benfica are coming off three wins in a row in all competitions. The latest, a 3-1 success in Aarhus in midweek, sealed their place in the main Europa League phase.
The aggregate score over the two legs was 6-2, which gives a fair idea of how comfortably they handled it. There is no continental hangover to manage here, no lingering doubt either.
The real turning point of their season so far was the 7-0 demolition of Casa Pia on matchday two. Vangelis Pavlidis bagged a hat-trick that day on 17 August.
The Greek striker has ten goals in his last six appearances in all competitions. He drew a blank in Denmark, but he is still the focal point of Marco Silva’s attack.
Gianluca Prestianni scored twice in Aarhus and should keep his place on the right. Rafa Silva, also on target that night, is expected to start on the left.
Across their last eight outings, Benfica have averaged four goals a game. That is the sort of output that makes this fixture look one-sided before a ball has even been kicked.
There is one doubt in midfield: captain Fredrik Aursnes picked up an ankle sprain before the trip to Denmark. His return from a muscle issue lasted only a brief cameo.
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Estoril Praia stuck in an 11-game winless run 
Estoril Praia have not won a league game in 11 matches. The run stretches back to the end of the 2025-2026 season, which finished with eight games without a win and a 10th-place finish.
The club changed coach this summer after Ian Cathro left for Saint-Etienne. Vasco Matos took over on 8 July, tasked with dragging a tired side out of the spiral.
The start has not exactly sparked hope: a 1-1 draw with Famalicao, then back-to-back 2-0 defeats away to Nacional and at home to Rio Ave. One point from three games, and down in 17th.
Last weekend, the Canaries were punished on both sides of the break against Rio Ave. Jalen Blesa and Tamble Monteiro did the damage.
At the back, the problems are obvious. They shipped 57 goals last season and have already conceded five in three games this term. Preseason has not fixed much.
Going forward, it is hardly better: just one goal since the restart. Only Casa Pia, who are still yet to score, have done worse in the league.
There is a small boost, though. Xeka is back after serving a suspension for the red card he picked up against Nacional. Jordan Holsgrove remains doubtful, missing the last three games with a muscle injury.
Probable Benfica line-up: Soares ; Bah, Araujo, Lenglet, Dahl ; Barreiro, Barrenechea ; Rafa Silva, Sudakov, Prestianni ; Pavlidis
Probable Estoril Praia line-up: Robles ; Sanchez, Ferro, Sierra, Medrano ; Xeka, Tsoungui ; Guitane, Carvalho, Lacximicant ; Begraoui
Liga Portugal prediction Benfica vs Estoril Praia
Our prediction: Benfica to win by at least two goals
Benfica are averaging four goals a game across their last eight outings, while Estoril have already conceded five in three league matches. The difference in quality jumps out from those two numbers alone.
The Lisbon club have won the last nine league meetings between the sides, including two 3-1 victories last season. The schedule also helps: no European game this week, a fresh squad, a crowd firmly behind them.
Estoril are on the back of two 2-0 defeats and have scored only once since the restart. Keeping Pavlidis and Prestianni quiet for 90 minutes would take something close to a miracle.
Backing Benfica for a straight win offers little value at this price. The better call is Benfica to win by at least two goals.
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