Liga Betclic: Vitória SC-Benfica x-ray

After the match with Vizela in the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup, Benfica will resume their Liga Betclic campaign this Sunday, February 11. At the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, at 8:30 pm, the Reds will face Vitória SC on matchday 21.

Leaders of the competition going into this round, Roger Schmidt's men head into the game in Minho with their sights set on an eighth consecutive league win.

Unbeaten for 19 league matches, the Eagles will be playing the Vimaranenses for the 182nd time. The record shows a largely favorable balance, with 126 wins (70%) for Benfica. There have also been 30 draws (17%).

Focusing solely on the league, this will be the 158th encounter between the two teams. The favorable record remains: 111 wins (70.7%) for Benfica and 25 draws (15.9%). Looking at the meetings at the Minhotos' home ground, there have been 44 wins (56.4%) in the 78 matches played, with 16 draws (20.5%).

Analyzing the data from the Wyscout platform, we can see that the Reds come into this match as the team with the most shots (337 shots compared to 257 for the Minho side, sixth in this regard), with 41.2% of their shots going on target, compared to 33.1% for the Vimaranense side, currently 5th in the Liga Betclic.

Still on the offensive side, 54.1% of the 686 one-on-one and dribbling actions carried out by Benfica players, the team that stands out the most in this regard, were successful. On the other hand, the Minhotos are penultimate in this parameter (419 dribbles and 48.2% effectiveness).

With 567 touches of the ball in the rival's box, the Eagles also distance themselves from the rest of their opponents. The Minho side, on the other hand, have 372 touches and are in 5th place.

In terms of crosses, the Reds were also more successful (41% on average of the 368 attempts) than their rivals, with Vitória SC achieving 31.2% of their 330 crosses.

In terms of possession, the contrast remains. The statistics show that Benfica are superior to their opponents (58% against 48%). Also in terms of build-up, the Reds are in the top spot with 11,008 passes made (86.5% correct). Compared to Vimaranense's record (7642 and 80.6% efficiency), the difference is striking.

The gap between the two clubs' performances remains in the passes into the final third (1,326 against 1,037).

At the back, Benfica have the league's least-beaten defense, with 12 goals conceded, eight fewer than the Minho side.

In defensive duels won, the teams are close: 61.3% success rate in Benfica's 1,397 duels against 60.5% in 1,316 by their next opponents. In aerial duels won, Vitória SC's efficiency is 47.9% in 858 duels compared to 44.4% in 561 for the Eagles.

On an individual level, Rafa, who scored a goal in the 3-0, is the most prolific player in the competition with eight goals, the same as André Silva, the Vimaranenses forward.

Rafa also leads the Liga Betclic in assists: he has nine. Tiago Silva and Jota Silva, each with four, are the rival's most valuable elements. With 60 and 59 shots respectively, Rafa and Di María are the players with the most shots on target. Jota Silva (58) is the player with the most shots for the Minho side.

On the previous matchday (a 0-1 win at Vizela), Vimaranense coach Álvaro Pacheco fielded the following players in a 3x5x2 formation: Bruno Varela, Borevkovic, Jorge Fernandes, Tomás Ribeiro, Bruno Gaspar, Tiago Silva, Händel, Nuno Santos, Ricardo Mangas, André Silva and Jota Silva.

On Benfica's side, Trubin, Bah, António Silva, Otamendi, Morato, Florentino, João Neves, Di María, Rafa, Aursnes and Arthur Cabral were the players chosen by Roger Schmidt for the home game against Gil Vicente.