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

Benfica take a trip to the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos Stadium to take on Gil Vicente in round three of the Primeira Liga.

Both sides head into the game having picked up two wins from their opening two games and will aim to keep the juggernaut rolling.

Match preview

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Gil Vicente made it two wins from their opening two games last time out when they beat Portimonense 1-0 at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao.

Brazilian forward Samuel Lino came up trumps for the Roosters as he scored the only goal of the game on the hour mark to condemn the hosts to their first defeat of the season.

This followed a 3-0 home victory over Boavista in their Primeira Liga curtain-raiser last Monday.

Ricardo Soares's men have picked up three wins from their four competitive outings so far, with the 1-1 draw against Pacos de Ferreira in the Taca da Liga qualifiers being the only exception.

Meanwhile, Benfica edged closer to a place in the Champions League group stages when they claimed a 2-1 first-leg victory over PSV Eindhoven in the final round of qualifiers on Wednesday.

As Aguias raced to a commanding two-goal lead through goals from Rafa Silva and Julian Weigl before Cody Gakpo pulled one back for the visitors in the 51st minute.

Back at home, Benfica picked up a second straight Primeira Liga victory last Saturday when they secured a 2-0 win over 10-man Arouca.

Jorge Jesus's men have maintained a 100% record this season, picking up five wins from their five competitive games, while scoring 10 goals and conceding twice in that time.

They head into Saturday's encounter in superb form against the hosts, picking up 22 wins and four draws from their last 29 meetings.

Team News

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Gil Vicente will take to the pitch without the services of Joao Afonso, who sustained an injury in the game against Moreirense back in April.

He is joined on the club's injury table by French midfielder Antoine Leautey, who suffered a muscle injury in July's Taca da Liga qualification game against Tondela.

Veteran defender Jan Vertonghen remains ruled out with a thigh injury and is not expected to make his return for at least three weeks.

Felipe Morato has been given the nod in the absence of the Belgian centre-back, and we expect the 20-year-old to keep his position in the starting XI.

Forwards Darwin Nunez and Haris Seferovic will also play no part in the game as they have been ruled out through knee and muscle injuries respectively.

Portuguese defender Ferro is also a major doubt for the visitors as he makes his return from a muscle injury he sustained back in July.

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Kritsyuk; Talocha, Fernandes, Ferrugem, Carlos; Pedrinho, Carvalho, Fujimoto; Lino, Fran, Aouacheria

Benfica possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Morato, Otamendi, Verissimo, Grimaldo; Pizzi, Weigl, Mario, Everton; Waldschmidt, Yaremchuk

We say: Gil Vicente 1-3 Benfica

​Gil Vicente have enjoyed a fine start to the season, picking up two wins from their two opening games. While we expect them to put up a fight, we predict Benfica will come away with the win.

Jorge Jesus's side head into the game off the back of an impressive victory over PSV, and we anticipate they will build on that performance and claim all three points.