Preview: Benfica vs. Gil Vicente - prediction, team news, lineups

Benfica will look to record a seventh straight league victory on Saturday, when they welcome Gil Vicente to the Estadio da Luz.

As Aguias have moved back up third in the Primeira Liga table thanks to their strong league run, while the visitors have moved up to 10th spot courtesy of an upturn in form.

Match preview

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Benfica come into this game having hit a strong run of form, recording seven consecutive victories in all competitions.

Last time out, Jorge Jesus's side recorded a dominant win, thrashing fifth-placed Pacos de Ferreira 5-0.

Goals from Diogo Goncalves, Rafa Silva, Darwin Nunez and a Haris Seferovic brace sealed a dominant win for As Aguias, while the defence secured their seventh consecutive clean sheet in all competitions.

That strong run of form has fired the Lisbon outfit back up to third place in the league, now sitting three points behind second-placed Porto and nine points behind league leaders Sporting Lisbon.

Their lofty league position is largely down to their solid defensive record, with only Sporting conceding fewer than the 17 goals that Jesus's men have shipped in 26 league games this season.

Their attack has arguably been equally strong too, with only Porto netting more than their 48 goals this campaign.

While their title hopes may be over for this season, Jesus will be hopeful that his side can still secure a finish in the top two, and confirm Champions League qualification for the next campaign.

To give themselves the best chance of finishing in the top two, As Aguias will have to continue their impressive winning run, starting with three points on Saturday.

They take on a Gil Vicente side who will be looking to bounce back from a narrow defeat to Moreirense last time out.

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Pedro Marques equalised for Os Gilistas after half time in that game, but a Ygor Nogueira own goal sealed a narrow 2-1 win for the visitors.

That broke a run of three consecutive league victories for Ricardo Soares's side, which saw them move away from the threat of the relegation zone.

Wins against Vitoria de Guimaraes, Nacional and Rio Ave have moved Os Gilistas up to 10th spot, now sitting four points above Maritimo in the relegation playoff place and six points above the automatic drop zone.

While they now sit much more comfortably in the table, Soares's men are anything but safe yet, given how tight the bottom half of the Portuguese top flight is.

As a result, he will be desperate for his side to get back to winning ways soon, as another run of victories before the end of the season should see them avoid the drop.

Team News

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Benfica will remain without defender Andre Almeida and midfielder Andreas Samaris, as the pair continue spells out with injuries.

Haris Seferovic will lead the line for As Aguias, having taken his tally to 16 league goals for the season with a brace last time out.

He could be supported by Luca Waldschmidt and Rafa Silva, although Darwin Nunez will hope that his goal in the last game will earn him a spot back in the starting team.

Jesus opted to switch to a system of three centre-backs in the game against Pacos de Ferreira, with Jan Vertonghen coming in alongside the impressive pairing of Nicolas Otamendi and Lucas Verissimo.

Gil Vicente will be without centre-back Ygor Nogueira, who will serve a suspension after he accumulated his 10th yellow card of the season last time out.

He is joined on the sidelines by young forward Miullen, who remains out with a long-term knee injury.

Kanya Fujimoto and Lourency will offer attacking threat from wide positions, although they could have to cover more ground defensively against a dominant Benfica side.

Benfica possible starting lineup:
Leite; Verissimo, Otamendi, Vertonghen; Goncalves, Taarabt, Weigl, Grimaldo; Silva, Seferovic, Nunez

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Denis; Pereira, Fernandes, Rodrigao, Talocha; Fujimoto, Pedrinho, Afonso, Goncalves, Lourency; Marques

We say: Benfica 3-0 Gil Vicente

Benfica have managed to hit their best run of form this season in the last month, and we do not see Gil Vicente stopping them on Saturday.

As Aguias have looked formidable defensively and will look to see out another clean sheet, while their potent attacking line should have more than enough to fire them to another dominant win.