Benfica travel to Arouca this Saturday, in the 16th round of the Portuguese Football League, hoping to win and continue their fight against leaders Sporting, who won on Friday, and also increase the distance to third place, Porto ”
Roger Schmidt’s side are the only ones in the 2023/24 League One season to have lost just once and will look to distance themselves this Saturday from Porto, who were home to Boavista in a 1-1 draw on Friday.
The Reds have 36 points to the Dragons’ 35 and a win could open up a four-point lead, plus one point behind Sporting’s 5-1 thrashing at Estoril Praia. The Estadio de Alvalade continues to move forward.
Ahead of them will be an Arouca side who are unbeaten in four games, three of which ended in victories, a sequence that has given them 10 of the 16 points they currently sit in 11th place.
If the Reds, who are still without the “reinforcements” of Marcos Leonardo, have the opportunity to consolidate their vice-leadership, Sporting Braga will take to the field at 20:30, in one of the biggest games of the day, with the Podium in its plans. as he trails the Dragons by three points.
Minho’s team, in fourth place, hosts its main rival, Vitória de Guimarães, with 32 points against 29 for the Victorians, who could have spoiled the plans of Arthur Jorge’s charges and leveled their score at the podium.
Vitoria are unbeaten in four rounds, while Braga returned to its triumphs in the previous round against Casa Pia (3-1), after losing at home to Benfica (1-0), and can now return to the podium.
Before the two biggest games, Visela, 16th, visits Estrela da Amadora, also at the bottom of the table, instead of a preventive “play-off”, as well as Gil Vicente, who travels to the Algarve to visit Farense, eighth in two matches. Matches are scheduled for 15:30.
The 16th round will end only on Monday with the Moreirense-Casa Pia match, and on Sunday Rio Ave will host Portimonense and Famalican will visit Desportiva de Chavez.
Program for round 16:
– Friday, January 5:
Sporting – Estoril Praia, 5-1
Boavista – Porto, 1:1
– Saturday, January 6:
Estrela da Amadora – Vizela, 15:30
Farense – Gil Vicente, 15:30
Arouca – Benfica, 18:00
Sporting Braga – Vitoria Guimaraes, 20:30
– Sunday, January 7:
Rio Ave – Portimonense, 18:00
Famalican – Desportivou de Chaves, 20:30
– Monday, January 8:
Moreirense – Casa Pia, 20:15
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.