Benfica vs Moreirense

Benfica, currently in second place, have an opportunity to narrow the gap at the top of the Primeira Liga table in gameweek 21 as they face struggling Moreirense at Estadio da Luz on Saturday.

With third-placed Porto set to take on league leaders Sporting Lisbon on Friday, the Eagles could cut the six-point deficit if they secure a win against a side that has lost four of their last five away matches (with one draw) heading into this weekend.

At the start of the new year, Benfica were third in the league, trailing both Sporting and Porto by two points, as the latter two were tied on 40 points after gameweek 16.

As they approach round 21, Bruno Lage’s side could find themselves two points ahead of Porto, thanks to the Oporto team’s struggles, having managed only two points from their last 12 available in 2025. However, Benfica remain six points behind league leaders Sporting, who have been in strong form, winning four of their last five league matches and three of their last four since the start of the year.

Benfica’s recent performances have been inconsistent, with two wins and two losses in 2025, including a surprising home defeat to Braga on January 4. That loss ended their two-year unbeaten run at the Stadium of Light and left them ninth in the form table.

After bouncing back with a dominant 4-0 victory over Famalicao in mid-January, the Eagles, who have won nine of their 10 home games this season, are now aiming to secure back-to-back wins at Estadio da Luz and achieve consecutive league victories for the first time since December.

While Benfica fans will be confident of handing Moreirense their 10th league defeat of the 2024-25 campaign, the Eagles must remain cautious. Four of the last five meetings between the two sides in all competitions have ended in draws, despite Benfica’s 3-0 win in the corresponding fixture last season.

The Green and Whites are unquestionably underdogs going into the twenty-first gameweek, even if the Minho-based visitors have stalemated the Lisbon heavyweights in previous seasons. Their hopes are further harmed by a dismal road record.

Prior to Saturday's trip to Benfica, Moreirense has lost seven Liga games and eight in all competitions. The 11th-place team's problems are further exacerbated by a five-game losing streak on the road (four defeats).

Cesar Peixoto's team last found some away joy when they defeated rock-bottom Boavista 2-0, but that October victory was an anomaly for the visitors, who have lost seven of their past nine away games from Minho.

Os Verdes e Brancos' chances of adding to their two away victories seem slim given that they have only seven points from 30 on the road, surpassing only Gil Vicente (six), AVS (five), Nacional (three), and Estrela Amadora (three).

With Estrela in the relegation playoff slot five points behind and second-bottom Farense eight behind ahead of this weekend's round, an eighth away league loss and tenth overall might make the 11th-place team start to look over their shoulder if other results go against them.