Gil Vicente Vs Benfica
Monday 24 February 2020 – 19:30 Kick-Off
Portuguese Primeira Liga
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: PaddyPower
(All betting odds displayed were correct at time of writing: 22nd February 2020 at 12:00 GMT)
Preview: Enduring their stickiest patch of the season, Benfica head to Gil Vicente for a Portuguese Primeira Liga fixture that could prove to be a tricky assignment for the reigning league champions.
Portuguese Primeira Liga Betting at 22Bet
Table of Contents
Gil Vicente Preview – Roosters go in search of another big scalp at home?
Typically in Portugal, anyone that isn’t Benfica, Braga, FC Porto or Sporting Lisbon are essentially written off whenever a fixture versus one of the aforementioned quartet of power clubs rolls around. Gil Vicente (10th – W6 D8 L7) are no exception. The club from northern Portugal, who are back competing in the top tier after a five year absence, are priced up as considerable outsiders despite boasting the advantage of playing at home.
Their ground may not be the most imposing, housing little more than 12,000 spectators on a good day, but it has formed the basis for what has thus far been a solid campaign from the team nicknamed Galos (Roosters). In fact up until the beginning of this month, when a heavy 5-1 defeat was suffered against Moreirense, Gil Vicente had successfully negotiated the entire league season to date without incurring a loss at their Estadio Cidade de Barcelos (W4 D5 L1).
Among those conquered on home soil include FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon, beaten 2-1 and 3-1 respectively, while Braga and Guimaraes would both feature in the Europa League this season but had to settle for score draws. Recently, Gil Vicente are two defeats in eight in Primeira Liga action (W2 D4 L2), scoring at least one goal on seven occasions. Their rate of goals is, however, modest at 1.10 per game but does rise to 1.40 when at home.
Benfica Preview – Portuguese champs suffering loss of focus at a bad time?
The defending Portuguese champions, who would claim their 37th league title at the end of the previous term, are on the ropes at the moment. Thursday’s loss in Kharkiv, Ukraine was a third in four games for Bruno Lage’s side, who must not only contend with a relatively short turnaround from that encounter to this but prepare for the return leg this coming Thursday. When a big performance will be demanded in Lisbon in order to overturn a 2-1 deficit.
Thursday’s display wasn’t the worst – creating a few openings in a game that didn’t come to life until the second half – but the result was all important and does leave them requiring another big effort just three days after this awkward-looking league fixture in Gil Vicente. Benfica (1st – W18 D0 L3) would win 5-0 on their most recent visit, in 2015, and do boast an almost impeccable record on their travels this season: W9 L1. A 3-2 scoreline at FC Porto their only such loss.
Yet that defeat to their nearest title rivals was immediately followed by another, at home to Braga, making it no win in four competitive matches when including a 1-1 draw away to Famalicao in the cup. Certainly the aura garnered from opening the season with 18 league wins out of 19 has diminished to some extent, while a slender one-point lead atop the table means coach Bruno Lage can ill-afford to make a raft of changes for what could be a tricky league outing on Monday.
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Gil Vicente Vs Benfica Betting Advice
Benfica were in Europa League action on Thursday, with a lengthy journey to Ukraine and back compounding a 2-1 first-leg defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk. The manager may opt to rotate his team with the second-leg in mind, which should enhance the possibility about the home side keeping this respectable at the very least. Furthermore, Gil Vicente are impressive in front of their own fans, losing one of ten there in the league this season (W4 D5 L1). Home or Draw (Double Chance) is big at 17/10 (Betfair).
Gil Vicente Vs Benfica – Key Facts
- Gil Vicente have lost only once at home in ten top-flight matches this season (W4 D5 L1).
- Benfica are currently on a four-game winless run in all competitions (D1 L3) but have won 9 of their 10 league fixtures away from home this season.
- One of the previous six league meetings produced both teams to score. However, this bet would land in five of the last seven held in Gil Vicente.
The safer alternative would be a bet on goals. Gil Vicente scored twice at home to Braga, Guimaraes and Porto, whilst also putting three past Sporting. They collected eight points from those daunting fixtures, proof of how capable this team are on their own patch. Moreover, Both Teams to Score climbs from just 18% when Benfica are home to 40% away, so I definitely feel there is some value in both teams finding the net.
Best Betting Odds for Gil Vicente Vs Benfica
Gil Vicente – 13/2 (Unibet)
Draw – 10/3 (Bet365)
Benfica – 1/2 (Betway)
