Benfica vs Braga – News and Probable Lineups

Benfica will host Braga at Estadio da Luz in their second-to-last match of the 2025-26 Primeira Liga season, aware that a win would bring them closer to securing a spot in the Champions League.

With Porto already declared champions, the only remaining spot for the prestigious European tournament lies in second place, and Benfica currently holds that position in the Portuguese league standings, benefiting from a favorable head-to-head record against third-placed Sporting Lisbon.

Match overview

Benfica arrives at this match following a frustrating 2-2 draw against Famalicao last Saturday, where a lack of discipline ultimately cost them, as Jose Mourinho’s team relinquished a two-goal lead.

After racing ahead with goals from Andreas Schjelderup and Richard Rios in the first half, Benfica seemed on course for a significant win, but a red card for Nicolas Otamendi in the 55th minute shifted the dynamics, allowing the opposition to come back into contention.

Although Benfica’s draw reduced their two-point lead over Sporting to merely a head-to-head advantage, it ended their three-match winning streak in the league. Nevertheless, they maintain an impressive undefeated streak in their last 47 Primeira Liga matches (W37, D10), a run that dates back to last season.

The Reds have also continued to shine offensively, scoring two or more goals in 11 of their last 12 league games, with only Sporting’s tally of 82 exceeding Benfica’s 69 in the division this season.

This attacking potency has been particularly evident at Da Luz, where Benfica has netted multiple goals in their last five league matches, winning four of those, and they will hope that their scoring prowess serves them well again on Monday.

Braga, on the other hand, also faced disappointment in their latest match, where Mario Dorgeles’ early red card significantly impacted their 3-1 loss to Freiburg, resulting in the Arsenalistas’ exit from the Europa League with a 4-3 aggregate defeat.

This setback leaves Carlos Vicens’ side without a win in their last two matches, having previously drawn 1-1 with Estoril Praia in the league, where Dorgeles’ opening goal was equalized after the break by Yanis Begraoui.

As a result, Braga has only managed two wins in their last five Primeira Liga matches, though they remain comfortably in fourth place, holding a five-point lead over fifth-placed Famalicao, meaning a draw would mathematically guarantee them a top-four finish due to their superior head-to-head record.

The Archbishops have also been tough to beat on the road this season, with only four defeats in 16 away league games (W8, D4, L4), and they will carry confidence from their recent performance in this matchup, having gone unbeaten in their last three Primeira Liga encounters with Benfica (W2, D1), including a 2-2 draw earlier this season.

Team News

Benfica is likely to be without Tomas Araujo, who has missed the last two matches due to a muscle issue, while Joao Veloso continues to be sidelined with a shoulder injury.

With Otamendi suspended, Benfica faces defensive challenges, which may require Enzo Barrenechea to step in alongside Antonio Silva, while midfielder Richard Rios is also unavailable after reaching the ninth yellow card limit.

For Braga, club captain Ricardo Horta has returned to the squad as an unused substitute against Freiburg following a brief injury and is likely to feature from the start here.

However, the visitors are expected to be without Diego Rodrigues, Bright Arrey-Mbi, Adrian Barisic, Florian Grillitsch, and Sikou Niakate due to various fitness concerns.

Benfica probable starting XI:

Trubin; Dedic, A Silva, Barrenechea, Dahl; M Silva, Aursnes; Schjelderup, Barreiro, Prestianni; Pavlidis

Braga probable starting XI:

Hornicek; Lagerbielke, V Carvalho, Oliveira; Martinez, Moutinho, Tiknaz, Gorby, V Gomez; Zalazar, Horta

In recent years, encounters between these sides have not been smooth for Benfica, but the Eagles come into this fixture with the benefit of a full week of rest, unlike Braga, who have just concluded a taxing European trip to Germany.

The visitors have also displayed some inconsistency in their recent performances, and while they have enough quality to pose challenges, Benfica’s attacking strength at Da Luz should help them secure a narrow but vital victory.