Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Santa Clara
Match Time & Date:
11/09/2021
19:00
Prediction: 0-2
Benfica
Santa Clara and Benfica go head to head at Estadio de Sao Miguel on day 5 of the new Primeira Liga campaign. Santa Clara will be fully focused on the national championship in the remainder of the season as they failed to book their place in the Conference League knockout stages. Anyhow, home win should not be considered as key attacker Carlos Carvalho left the club in the summer transfer window.
The Eagles, on the other hand, are on a quest to regain the domestic trophy. The capital club aim to keep their 100% record in the new Primeira Liga campaign intact, and given Santa Clara’s ups and downs at the start of the season, we predict that the league leaders will pick up all three points from Saturday’s clash. Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus can count on key players for the Estadio de Sao Miguel showdown.
Highlighted Player (Fabio Cardoso):
Fabio Cardoso is a Portuguese defender who was born in Agueda (Portugal) on April 19, 1994. Cardoso started his youth career at his hometown club Agueda, but in 2008 he continued his development at Benfica. After scoring three goals in 55 appearances for Benfica B, he spent the 2015/2016 season on loan at Pacos Ferreira.
In the summer of 2017, he signed a four-year deal with Vitoria Setubal, but he spent only one season at Estadio do Bonfim. Cardoso joined Scottish club Glasgow Rangers in June 2017, signing a three-year contract with the club for a fee of around £1.3 million.
The Portuguese defender, though, made no more than 12 appearances for the Gers, joining Santa Clara in the summer of 2018. Fabio Cardoso has four caps with the Portugal U20 team, but he has yet to earn a call-up for the senior team. His primary position is a centre-back, but he is often used as a left-back. His preferred foot is right.
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.
