Arouca vs Benfica – News and Probable Lineups

Benfica, having missed an opportunity to close the gap at the top of the Primeira Liga, will face Arouca this weekend, determined to remain competitive with the leading teams.

The Eagles are coming off a 2-2 draw from Sunday’s O’Classico against league leaders Porto at Estadio da Luz, while the Wolves experienced a narrow defeat, losing 1-0 to Famalicao in their latest match.

Match overview

This weekend’s schedule featured matches among the top four, providing Benfica further chances to reduce their disadvantage, especially after second-placed Sporting Lisbon faltered at Braga a day earlier.

Although this opportunity went unexploited, Jose Mourinho can draw optimism from his team’s vigorous second half against Porto, where they came back from a two-goal deficit to level the score with goals from Andreas Schjelderup and Leandro Barreiro.

The draw put an end to Benfica’s four-match winning streak in the league, leaving them third in the Primeira Liga standings, with the gap to the top two teams remaining at three and seven points, respectively.

A win on Saturday would allow Mourinho’s squad to narrow that gap, at least temporarily, with Porto playing the following day and Sporting’s match against Tondela being postponed.

The Reds will be optimistic about securing all three points, bolstered by a solid record of nine wins from 12 away league matches this season (D3), while their historical superiority over Arouca provides additional confidence.

In fact, Lobos have suffered losses in 13 of their last 14 encounters with Benfica (D1), including a 5-0 defeat in the previous meeting back in October, and recent performances suggest they may face similar challenges again.

Arouca has encountered defeat in three of their last four fixtures (W1), with the most recent matches leaving them with bittersweet memories, having conceded two stoppage-time goals in a 3-1 defeat at Porto, followed by a close loss at Famalicao, where they conceded an 82nd-minute goal from Rodrigo Pinheiro.

Vasco Seabra’s side has alternated between victories and losses across their nine 2026 matches (W4, L5), a run that places them 11th in the table, four points clear of the relegation playoff zone, making a positive result this weekend vital for Lobos’ survival aspirations.

Home-field advantage is crucial, as the Wolves have celebrated victories in three of their last five home matches (D1, L1), scoring exactly three goals in each of the last two.

However, defensive frailties persist, with Arouca having given up the second-highest number of goals in the league (53) – a statistic unlikely to instill confidence against a Benfica side that has also scored 53 goals this season, with only Sporting (64) scoring more.

Team News

Arouca will likely be without Mateo Flores, who has been absent for the last six matches, while Pedro Santos might again be unfit, having last played in early January.

Tiago Esgaio has missed the last two matches and is uncertain for this fixture, with Javi Sanchez also a doubt after missing the last outing, while Omar Fayed may miss a ninth consecutive game.

On the other hand, Benfica anticipates veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi will be available after exiting the previous O’Classico due to a minor injury.

Midfielder Fredrik Aursnes might miss a second straight match due to discomfort, while Sidney Lopes Cabral was not included in the previous squad; winger Bruma could sit out a fifth consecutive fixture, and Joao Veloso continues his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury.

Striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who hasn’t scored in five matches, will be keen to rediscover his form, holding 20 league goals this season – three behind Sporting’s Luis Suarez in the Golden Boot race.

Manager Mourinho will be absent for this match as he serves the first of a two-match suspension following a disciplinary decision from the previous weekend’s encounter.

Arouca probable starting XI:

De Arruabarrena; Monteiro, Popovic, Fontan, Kuipers; Van Ee, Fukui; Trezza, Lee, Djouahra; Barbero

Benfica probable starting XI:

Trubin; Dedic, A Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Barreiro; Prestianni, Rafa Silva, Schjelderup; Pavlidis

With other competitions set aside, Benfica can focus solely on the league and will be determined to secure all three points to increase the pressure on the leading duo.

The Eagles have scored two or more goals in each of their last five league matches and are expected to outscore an Arouca side that has shown vulnerabilities at the back.