Arouca vs Benfica Lisbon Prediction & Betting Tips - Liga Portugal

Prediction published on 18/01/2022, 08:36  by Indran | Modified on 18/01/2022 at 09:36 in Liga Portugal Predictions

Arouca entertain Benfica at the Estádio Municipal de Arouca in this Matchday 19 encounter in the Portuguese Premier League. The hosts are in 17th position with 14 points while the visitors are in 3rd position with 41 points. Arouca are in the relegation zone, two points from safety but they do have a game in hand. They urgently need a change in fortunes as they have not had a win in their last five matches with four losses and a draw. Their last win was against Boavista in November. They home form needs immediate improvement as they have lost their last two home games. Their biggest problem in their home games has been their porous defence, conceding 18 goals in eight matches at an average of 2.25 goals per match. This is the second worst defensive record only behind Belenenses who have conceded 20.

Benfica in third place are six points behind second placed Sporting and nine points behind league leaders Porto. Their inconsistency has seen them virtually drop out of the title race. They have dropped five crucial points in their last three matches. Their recent poor form also extends to the Cup competition were they were thrashed 3-0 by Porto. They were on a run of four successive victories but since then they have only won one of their next four matches. In the four matches that they won they only conceded two goals but have conceded nine in the next four. Benfica have won the last five matches between these sides with a goal aggregate of 12-3.