The hosts are heading into the match on the back of a 2-1 Taca da Liga semi-final defeat to Sporting Lisbon, last Tuesday, while Benfica got the better of Pacos Ferreira in a top flight match, two days later.
Arouca will host Benfica in a Portuguese Primeira Liga fixture at Estadio de Municpal Arouca on Tuesday night. The hosts are heading into the match on the back of a 2-1 Taca da Liga semi-final defeat to Sporting Lisbon, last Tuesday, while Benfica got the better of Pacos Ferreira in a top flight match, two days later. The win helped the Eagles to move to 47 points from 18 games, at the summit of the standings, seven points clear of second-placed Braga, who have a game in hand. Arouca, meanwhile, are sitting at the sixth position, with 26 points to their name from 17 outings.
🔜 #FCASLB pic.twitter.com/ULjJXBQ1XL
— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) January 29, 2023
Arouca’s fairytale run at the Cup competition came to an end after losing 2-1 to Sporting in the mid-week. Paulinho scored either side of Oday Dabbagh’s 58th-minute strike to eliminate Arouquenses. Prior to that, Arouca thrashed Portimonense 4-0 in a league-match, courtesy of a brace from Dabbagh and one goal each from Alan Ruiz and Benji Michel. It was their seventh league-win of the season and the result helped Armando Evangelista’s side to extend their unbeaten run to three Primeira Liga-games since the turn of the year.
Benfica, on the other hand, have won four of their last five games across all competition in 2023. Last time out, the Eagles netted twice against rock bottom side Pcos Ferreira without reply, through first-half strikes from Alex Grimaldo and Joao Mario. It was Benfica’s 15th top flight victory of the campaign. Roger Schmidt’s men are well on track to secure their first league title since the 2018-19 campaign.
Arouca striker Vitinho is sidelined with a long-term injury, while defender Sema Velazquez is also occupying the medical room. Dabbagh, who has netted thrice in his last two outings, will continue to spearhead the attack, with Sylla, Ruiz and Antony in support. As for Benfica, attacker Rafa Silva is out with a muscle injury, while Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos is doubtful for the trip to Arouca, having picked up an injury in the last outings.
Arouca Probable line-up: Arruabarrena, Esgaio, Basso, Galovic, Correia, Sorro, Arsenio, Sylla, Ruiz, Antony, Dabbagh
Benfica probable line-up: Vlachodimos, Bah, Silva, Morato, Grimaldo, Luis, Fernandez, Mario, Aursnes, Guedes, Musa
Arouca
Opponents | Score |
Sporting Lisbon | 1-2 (L) |
Portimonense | 4-0 (W) |
Chaves | 1-1 (D) |
FC Porto | 4-0 (L) |
Estoril | 2-0 (W) |
Benfica
Opponents | Score |
Pacos Ferreira | 0-2 (W) |
Santa Clara | 0-3 (W) |
Sporting Lisbon | 2-2 (D) |
Varzim | 0-2 (W) |
Portimonense | 1-0 (W) |
Last 5 match-results | Scor |
Benfica beat Arouca | 4-0 |
Benfica beat Arouca | 0-2 |
Benfica beat Arouca | 2-0 |
Benfica beat Arouca | 2-1 |
Benfica beat Arouca | 3-0 |
The Portuguese Primeira Liga match between Arouca and Benfica will take place at Estadio Municipal, de Arouca on Wednesday at 2:45 am IST.
Arouca vs Benfica | Key Details |
Date | January 31 (Portugal) |
Venue | Estadio Muncipal Arouca |
Kickoff time in Portugal | 9:15 pm (Tuesday) |
Kickoff time in India | 2:45 am (Wednesday) |
The live telecast of the Portuguese Primeira Liga match between Arouca and Benfica can be seen on Sport TV Multiscreen and Sport TV1.