Liga Betclic: Benfica-Boavista X-ray

Benfica hosts Boavista this Friday, January 19, at 8:15 pm, on matchday 18 of the Liga Betclic. The match marks the start of the second half of the competition and is an opportunity for Roger Schmidt's men to extend their run of (seven) consecutive wins in all competitions.

While Benfica completed a 16-game unbeaten run in the Liga Betclic in the last round against Rio Ave (4-1), Boavista put an end to a run of 11 consecutive games without tasting victory. The axadrezados hadn't won since matchday 5, against Chaves (4-1), and they picked up three points again at the expense of Vizela, precisely as visitors, by 1-4.

This is how Boavista, now coached by Ricardo Paiva, will take to the field at the Estádio da Luz, where Benfica have six wins in eight games in the 2023/24 edition of the Liga Betclic. Boavista picked up im Vizela its 3rd win in eight away games.

Looking at the history of matches between the two clubs, Benfica and Boavista will officially face each other for the 133rd time. They have met 121 times in the league, with the Eagles coming out on top in 70 games (58%) and 33 draws (27%). At home, Benfica has won 44 of its 60 league matches (73%) and drawn 12 (20%).

In Benfica's last 10 encounters with Boavista at the Estádio da Luz, the eagles have won nine games since 2007/08.

Looking at the statistical parameters of the two teams, according to the Wyscout platform, Benfica is naturally superior, reflecting the ambitions of both teams in the competition.

In attacking terms, Benfica is the team with the most shots in the competition (287 against 163), the most crosses (319 against 271), the most one-on-one dribbles (608 against 365) and the most touches in the opposing penalty box (478 against 215).

The attacking ability of both teams is also reflected in their passing. Benfica lead the way in this parameter with 9422 passes made and a success rate of 86.3%. Boavista, on the other hand, have 6876 passes and an 81.6% success rate.

With the status of the best defense in the competition (11 goals conceded in 17 matches), the team led by Roger Schmidt maintains a high percentage of defensive duels won (61%). Boavista, who are in 9th place in the league, will head to the Estádio da Luz with a negative goal difference of five, as a result of 26 goals scored and 31 conceded.

Individually, Rafa, stands out, having been involved in 15 of Benfica's goals in the competition, including goals (6) and assists (9). The No. 27 is the player with the most passes for goals in the competition, and he's followed by teammate Aursnes, with five assists. Among the Boavista players, Bozeník is the most influential in attack, scoring eight goals - only one as the assist provider.

In the 4-1 win over Rio Ave, on matchday 17 of the Liga Betclic, Roger Schmidt used a starting eleven made up of Trubin, Aursnes, António Silva, Otamendi, Morato, João Neves, Kökcü, Di María, Rafa, João Mário and Arthur Cabral. The match was also marked by Marcos Leonardo's official debut with the eagle on his chest, scoring a goal 17 minutes after coming on.

Ricardo Paiva, on his winning trip to Vizela, organized Boavista's team in a 4x2x3x1 formation, fielding João Gonçalves, Luís Santos, Sasso, Abascal, Filipe Ferreira, Makouta, Sebastián Pérez, Bruno Lourenço, Reisinho, Tiago Morais and Bozeník.