Benfica vs Porto
1 August 2045hrs
Football – Portugal – Taca de Portugal
Pick Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker 888Sport
Odds: 8/11 odds taken 2000 GMT, Thursday 30 July
Porto have been relentless in winning the Portuguese title and hoping to win the double against Benfica who have been returned to form in the final few games of the season.
Table of Contents
Benfica Preview – Can Benfica salvage something from a frustrating season and lift the cup?
When Benfica had won 18 of their first 19 games in the league it looked for all money that they would be crowned champions once again. Bruno Lage was being hailed as a hero having led them to the title the previous season and their brand of football was attracting a lot of admirers. Unfortunately for Lage and his players they have been unable to sustain it and a terrible run from February into the restart proved to be significant in them falling short.
It was a defeat to Porto which was the turning point as that loss sparked a run of just two wins in 10 games.
Lage eventually paid the price by losing his job and has been replaced in the interim with Nelson Verissimo. That appointment appears to have made an impact with four wins in their last five. Benfica scored 12 goals in the process which will have them in much better mood heading into a game which could give them some enjoyment from the campaign.
The charismatic Jorge Jesus – who enjoyed six successful seasons with Benfica previously – will return to the club for the start of the new season as they prepare to wrestle their title back from Porto.
Porto Preview – Will Porto continue their recent dominance and win a first double since 2011?
It may not have looked likely in the first half of the campaign, but Porto ended up winning the title with something to spare. It means that Sergio Conceicao has won two titles in his three years in charge and he will now be looking at this competition for further success. No Porto team has won the cup since 2011 which was also the last time the club won the domestic double. An agonising 1-0 loss against Sporting Braga in the League Cup final has denied them a chance of a historic treble.
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The champions were highest scorers in the Primeira Liga with 74 goals and also had the best defensive record – allowing only 22 in their 34 games. The consistency of their form in the second half of the season was excellent, too. Before losing to Braga away on the final day of the season, Porto had lost just one in 16 matches, winning 13 of them.
Moussa Marega is the play to watch for Porto the way he finished the season. The Malian had injury problems in the early part of the season but scored six goals in his last six matches. He will be full of confidence for this. Marega also scored in the 2-0 win against Benfica last August.
Benfica vs Porto Betting Advice
Porto have had the upper hand over Benfica this season, winning both games. The surprising thing about this final is that it’s the first meeting between these two since 2004. Benfica were victorious on that occasion – defeating that year’s Champions League winners. Neither team has won the competition either since Benfica’s triumph in 2017.
Key Facts – Benfica vs Porto Betting
- Porto won the Primeira Liga by five points in the end and lost in the League Cup final earlier in the season
- Two wins in 10 league games ended Benfica’s hopes of the title and ended with Brune Lage’s sacking
- Porto have beaten Benfica in both league meetings this season which proved decisive
It promises to be a rip-roaring final to end the Portuguese domestic season. There will be big changes at Benfica over the summer but this group of players have to show their mettle following their league disappointment. Porto will be looking to assert their dominance following that title triumph.
There may have been five goals in their last meeting but 10 of the last 15 fixtures between Porto and Benfica have had two or fewer goals. Combine that with cup finals being traditionally more cagey affairs then under 2.5 goals is the selection here.
