Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Benfica will look to move one step closer to winning their 38th Primeira Liga trophy when they take on Boavista on Matchday 21. The Eagles are leading the chase for the title, but their bitter rivals Porto are still breathing down their neck. A man to watch in the home team will be prolific midfielder Joao Mario, who scored a brace in a 3-0 win over Casa Pia, while Goncalo Ramos is pushing for a start after overcoming his injury.
The Black-and-Whites, on the other hand, produced a fine display in a goalless draw with Casa Pia despite Sebastian Perez’s sending-off. The Colombia midfielder is banned for Monday’s clash, and seeing that Benfica are a real force to be reckoned with at home, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. There are no fresh injury worries in the away team.
Highlighted Player (Alex Grimaldo):
Alex Grimaldo is a Spanish footballer who plays for Portuguese side Benfica as a left back. Born in Valencia on September 20, 1995, Grimaldo started his youth career at his hometown club FC Valencia, but in 2008 Barcelona scouts brought him to Camp Nou.
The 171-cm-tall footballer scored six goals in 92 appearances for Barca B before joining Primeira Liga club Benfica in the winter of 2015. Alex Grimaldo made his debut with the Eagles on January 26, 2016 in a 6-1 win at Moreirense in the Taca da Liga. Speaking of his Primeira Liga debut, Grimaldo played his first league game for Benfica on February 29, 2016 in a 2-0 win over Uniao Leiria.
The Benfica defender has two caps for Spain U21 team, but he has yet to make his debut with the senior team. His main position is left-back, but he is capable of producing fine performances as a left winger as well.
Highlighted Team (Boavista):
Founded on August 1, 1903, Boavista are a Portuguese club that welcome their rivals at Estadio do Bessa. The capacity of the venue is 28,263 and it was built back in 1911. As Panteras (The Panthers) are well known for their black and white shirts and white is the dominant colour of their away kit.
Famous Fellow city club Porto are considered Boavista’s main rivals and the two teams face each other in O Derby da Invicta and there have always been fireworks in clashes between the two local rivals. A Panteras did well to win their first and only Primeira Liga trophy in the 2000/2001 season, with the team finishing the campaign only one point clear of Porto.
Boavista have five Taca de Portugal trophies (1974/75, 1975/76, 1978/79, 1991/92, 1996/97), with the team winning Supertaca de Portugal three times (1979, 1992, 1997). Jose Bosingwa, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Nuno Gomes are the notable footballers who played for Boavista in the past, to name just a few.