Benfica vs. AVS – News and Probable Lineups

Benfica aims to move on from their controversial encounter earlier this week and focus on the Primeira Liga match against bottom-placed AVS at the Estadio da Luz this Saturday.

Having experienced a 1–0 loss in a tightly contested first leg against Real Madrid in their Champions League knockout playoff last Tuesday, they now face a side from Vila das Aves that recently achieved their first victory of the season.

Match overview

Given the circumstances, Benfica’s second clash with Real Madrid this season was bound to generate significant discussions, especially after Jose Mourinho led his team to a memorable win over his old club three weeks prior, thereby disrupting the Galacticos’ aspirations for a top-eight finish.

During Tuesday’s match at the Estadio da Luz, tensions flared after Vinicius Junior’s celebration seemed to incite a reaction from some fans and Benfica players, with Gianluca Prestianni at the center of controversy when it was alleged he directed a racial insult towards the Brazilian forward, prompting a brief halt in play.

While investigations regarding the incident will follow, Benfica has publicly supported Prestianni. With the second leg in Spain next week in mind, they now need to shift their entire focus back to domestic commitments as they strive to continue their recent league success.

Last weekend, their 2–1 win against Santa Clara marked a fifth triumph in six league matches in 2026 (D1), extending the Eagles’ unbeaten stretch in the league to 37 games (W27, D10), dating back to their loss to Casa Pia on matchday 19 last season.

This impressive run keeps Benfica as the only club without a league defeat this season, enhancing their status in the title race — with the Reds currently positioned third in the Primeira Liga table — reducing the gap to the top and to second place to seven and three points, respectively.

A victory on Saturday would further elevate their momentum, but the Eagles will approach the match with caution; although they’ve won seven of their 11 home league games this season (D4), they have dropped points against teams currently in the relegation battle, managing draws against Santa Clara, Casa Pia, and Rio Ave.

On the other hand, AVS will draw confidence from their recent league win, having beaten an in-form Estoril Praia 3–0 at the Estadio do CD Aves, thanks to second-half goals from Diego Duarte, Tomane, and Angel Algobia.

This match also marked Joao Henriques’s first victory since taking charge in December, ending a disappointing run of eight matches without a win (D2, L6), although their challenging position remains unchanged.

The Vila das Aves side finds themselves at the bottom of the table, an alarming 12 points away from safety, having netted just 18 goals — the third fewest in the league — while conceding a league-high 54.

Out of those goals, 31 have been scored away from home, where AVS has lost eight of their 10 Primeira Liga matches this season, a record that offers little hope, especially as they have been defeated in three of their last four encounters with Benfica (D1), conceding nine goals in the last two games without scoring.

Team News

Benfica will miss Prestianni, who received his fifth yellow card of the Primeira Liga season at Santa Clara last weekend and will serve a suspension.

However, they have a potential option on the right flank, with Dodi Lukebakio returning from an ankle injury to make a brief appearance against Madrid, though it remains unclear if he is fit enough to start.

Richard Rios also played as a substitute in that same match, while Alexander Bah was included on the bench after recovering from a long-term injury; however, goalkeeper Samuel Soares is still sidelined due to a muscle issue.

For AVS, their recent win against Estoril came with a cost, as midfielder Pedro Lima had to depart the match, casting doubt on his availability for this fixture.

Antoine Baroan will miss another match due to a broken leg, and right-back Guillem Molina remains unavailable due to a fibular injury.

Benfica probable starting XI:

Trubin; Banjaqui, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Barreiro; Aursnes, Rafa Silva, Sudakov; Pavlidi

AVS probable starting XI:

Adriel; Devenish, Paulo Vitor, Rivas; Mendonca, Algobia, Roni, Pedro Lima, Akinsola; Duarte, Tomane

Despite AVS’ recent victory, they are likely to face difficulties against a Benfica side eager to reignite their title challenge.

The Eagles’ 6-0 victory in the last home fixture against this opponent suggests another comfortable win for the hosts against a defensively weak opponent.