Porto vs Benfica – News and Probable Lineups

Porto will clash with Benfica in the initial O Classico of the 2026-27 Primeira Liga season on Sunday evening, with both teams currently holding the top two spots following six rounds of matches.

The teams are separated by a narrow margin of just two points, with the Dragons leading the Portuguese top-flight standings, while the Eagles arrive after a notable European win at San Siro.

Match overview

Porto has had a stellar start to their title defense, winning every one of their six league matches, a feat supported by a strong defense that has only allowed two goals in the league this season, lower than any other team in the division.

This solid defense brings back memories of their championship-winning season last year, during which the Dragons kept a league-leading 21 clean sheets and ended a three-year drought for the Portuguese title, finishing six points clear of second-placed Sporting Lisbon.

Porto’s flawless start also mirrors their explosive beginning in 2025-26, having secured victories against Alverca, Rio Ave, Arouca, Academico de Viseu, Moreirense and Casa Pia, allowing them to establish an early lead in the standings for 2026-27.

Last week’s 4-1 win at Rio Maior was an ideal response to their Champions League setback against Manchester City, as the Dragons came back from an early advantage for maximum points, courtesy of goals from Andre Silva, Jakub Kiwior, Borja Sainz, and Santiago Gimenez.

A victory this weekend would see Porto equal their seven-match winning streak from last season’s league campaign, although Françasco Farioli’s side faces the same Benfica team that halted that perfect run with a goalless stalemate at this very venue during the 2025-26 season.

Simultaneously, Benfica has also made a remarkable start to their Primeira Liga season, apart from a disappointing 2-2 draw against newly promoted Academico at Estadio da Luz in the opening match.

Following that, they achieved five consecutive league wins against Casa Pia, Estoril Praia, Maritimo, Moreirense, and Gil Vicente, including a brace from Vangelis Pavlidis and a late goal from Gianluca Prestianni that secured a comeback 3-1 victory over the Barcelos outfit.

Thus, Marco Silva’s squad has netted multiple goals in each of their six top-flight games this season, amassing a total of 21, which is five more than any other club in the ongoing Portuguese campaign.

Benfica’s offensive prowess was similarly evident on the continental stage midweek when Silva’s extensively rotated side began their Europa League journey with a 2-0 triumph over AC Milan, thanks to goals from Dodi Lukebakio and Jakub Kaminski.

As they return to Primeira Liga affairs this weekend, the Eagles aim to continue a lengthy unbeaten streak within the league, having not been defeated in 55 matches since losing to Casa Pia on matchday 19 of the 2024-25 season.

Avoiding defeat on their last two league trips to the Dragao suggests Benfica is well-prepared for the upcoming challenge, although a 1-0 cup loss in their latest visit serves as a reminder that their impressive league record does not guarantee another favorable outcome.

Team News

Porto will certainly be missing Nehuen Perez due to a thigh injury, with Joao Costa and Zaidu Sanusi also undergoing treatment.

Vasco Sousa, Andre Miranda, and Samu Omorodion are also on their way back to fitness, while Victor Froholdt and Oskar Pietuszewski are continuing with conditioned training, with Froholdt making progress towards a return.

Farioli has involved B-team players Luis Gomes and Tiago Silva in first-team training to make up for the absences, while Kiwior and Jan Bednarek are likely to be the starting center-backs.

On the other hand, summer signing Gimenez came off the bench to net his first goal for the club from the penalty spot in the last match, but Silva is expected to lead the attack once again.

Benfica has fewer injury concerns heading into this fixture, with Alexander Bah back in full training and therefore available to reclaim the right-back position.

Silva has also managed to rotate the workloads of several key players through extensive squad rotation in Europe, and the likes of Prestianni and Rafa Silva could return to the starting lineup this weekend.

Pavlidis also appeared in a second-half cameo during that encounter and is expected to be back in the starting XI as he aims to add to his seven league goals, which currently has him leading the Golden Boot race.

Porto probable starting XI:

D Costa; And Costa, Bednarek, Kiwior, Moura; Hwang, Rosario, Veiga; In Gomes, Andre Silva, Pepe

Benfica probable starting XI:

Soares; Banjaqui, Araujo, Lenglet, Dahl; Aursnes, Palhinha; Rafa Silva, Schjelderup, Prestianni; Pavlidis

Porto’s solid defensive structure could inhibit Benfica from replicating the attacking statistics they have shown elsewhere, while the visitors’ current scoring form may pose challenges for the champions in maintaining their unblemished record, potentially leading to a draw at the Dragao.