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Nacional will host Benfica at the Estadio da Madeira on Sunday in another round of the 2024-25 Jupiler Primeira Liga campaign. The home side have endured a difficult return to the Portuguese top flight and find themselves fighting for survival in the early stages of the season as they sit 17th in the table with five points from seven matches.
They played out a goalless draw against Famalicao in their last match and could have no real complaints about the result after struggling to fashion any noteworthy chances to get on the scoresheet.
Benfica, meanwhile, have enjoyed a brilliant start to life under head coach Bruno Lage upon his return to the club. They thrashed Gil Vicente 5-1 in their last league outing, with five different players getting on the scoresheet before handing out a 4-0 hiding to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League earlier in the week.
The visitors now sit third in the table with 16 points from seven matches and will be looking to add to that tally when they play on Sunday.
Nacional vs Benfica Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- There have been 48 meetings between Nacional and Benfica. The home side have won just four of those games while the visitors have won 37 times. There have been seven draws between the two teams.
- The two sides last faced off in a league clash back in May 2021 which the Eagles won 3-1.
- The visitors are undefeated in their last 20 games in this fixture.
- The hosts are without a clean sheet in their last 25 games in this fixture, a run stretching back to 2008.
- Benfica have scored 17 goals in the Primeira Liga this season. Only league leaders Sporting (25) have scored more.
Nacional vs Benfica Prediction
Nacional are on a three-game winless streak and have won just one of their last seven matches. They have lost two of their last three home games and could struggle here.
Benfica are on a five-game winning streak and are undefeated in their last eight games across all competitions. They have been the dominant side in this fixture historically and should win this one fairly easily.
Prediction: Nacional 1-4 Benfica
Nacional vs Benfica Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Benfica to win
Tip 2 - Goals - Over/under 2.5 - Over 2.5 goals (Seven of the last eight matches between the two teams have produced more than 2.5 goals)
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: YES (Both sides have found the back of the net in five of their last six matchups at the Estadio da Madeira)
