Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Porto
Match Time & Date:
03/03/2024
03:30 PM
Prediction: 1-1
Benfica
Sparkles will be flying when Porto and Benfica face each other in O Classico on Sunday evening. The Dragons are desperate to keep their title hopes alive and we are positive that they will fight tooth and nail against their bitter rivals. Midfielder Galeno is widely expected to return to the starting XI, while all Gabriel Veron, Ivan Marcano, Mehdi Taremi, and Zaidu Sanusi continue to miss out through injuries.
The Eagles, on the other hand, rolled over Portimonense 4-0 at the weekend to retain top position in the standings, but beating Porto at Estadio do Dragao is easier said than done. Even though Roger Schmidt should have a full squad to choose from, except for Juan Bernat, we believe that there is a big value in betting on draw. You should know that under 2.5 goals have been netted in four of their last five meetings in all competitions.
Highlighted Player (Toni Martinez):
Born in Barrio del Progreso, Spain, on June 30, 1997, Toni Martinez is a forward who plays for Primeira Liga side Famalicao. Martinez is a product of Real Murcia football school, but in 2013 he moved to Valencia youth academy.
After scoring two goals in 16 appearances for Valencia B, the Spaniard signed a deal with West Ham United in April 2016 for a fee of around £2.4 million. However, he did not see any game action in the Premier League with the Hammers as he was immediately sent on loan to Oxford United.
Toni Martinez played for the likes of Real Valladolid, Rayo Majadahonda, and Lugo on loan as well before signing a three-year deal with Famalicao in the summer of 2019. He made his debut with the Azuis e Brancos on August 3, 2019, in a 2-0 home defeat to Covilha in the Taca da Portugal. Toni Martinez has two caps with the Spain U19 team.
Highlighted Team (Benfica):
Member of the ‘Big Three’ clubs in Portugal alongside FC Porto and CP Sporting, Sport Lisboa e Benfica are the football club that has never been relegated from the Primeira Liga. The club is nicknamed Aguias because of the Eagle symbol atop the club’s crest. Benfica play their home games at the Estadio da Luz which replaced the original one in 2003 and which boasts the capacity of more than 64,000. Arguably the most successful club in Portugal, Benfica have won a record of 35 Primeira Liga titles and also a record 25 Taca de Liga and 7 Taca da Liga trophies.
Two-time European Cup winners, Benfica are the club known for their diligent work with youth players, many of which went on to make great careers abroad. The most prominent players to wear a Benfica shirt are legendary Eusebio, Manuel Bento, Jorge Tavares and most recently Javier Saviola, Nuno Gomes, David Luiz and Angel Di Maria.
