This Thursday, Benfica seeks to reinforce its leadership of the 1st Portuguese football league when it travels to Paços de Ferreira, last classified, in a match of the 20th round, anticipated by the participation of the ‘incarnated’ in the Champions League.
A victory in Mata Real leaves the Lisbon team provisionally in command of the championship with a seven-point advantage over Sporting de Braga, second, and eight over FC Porto, third.
Benfica will have to count on the return of the Argentine center-back Otamendi, who missed the duel in the Azores with Santa Clara (3-0) due to suspension, but Rafa, injured, will continue to be absent.
The Paços de Ferreira remain in last place with just six points (and a single win), but in the last round they complicated the task of Sporting de Braga, who beat Mata Real 2-1, but with the winning goal poking out. only in the last move of the game.
The Paços de Ferreira-Benfica match is scheduled for 20:15 and will be refereed by Luís Godinho, from the Évora Football Association.
The 20th day of the I Liga will take place between February 10 and 13, but this match was brought forward at the request of Benfica, due to the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, with the Belgians of the Club Brugge, scheduled for February 15 at the Jan Breydelstadion.
Program of the 20th:
– Thursday, January 26
Paços de Ferreira – Benfica, 8:15 p.m.
– Friday, February 10
Vizela — Desportivo de Chaves, 20:15
– Saturday, February 11
Arouca-Santa Clara, 3:30 p.m.
Vitória de Guimarães — Portimonense, 8:30 p.m.
– Sunday, February 12
Famalicão – Gil Vicente, 15:30
Sporting – FC Porto, 6:00 p.m.
Maritime – Sporting de Braga, 8:30 p.m.
– Monday, February 13
Avenida Río — Estoril Beach, 7:00 p.m.
Boavista – Casa Pia, 21:15
Source: TSF
