Porto have made a perfect start to their Primeira Liga title defence, winning their first six matches, but they can expect a tough test against Marco Silva's Benfica on Sunday.
Benfica are just two points behind their rivals and they started their UEFA Europa League campaign with an impressive 2-0 win away to AC Milan on Wednesday.
Sporting's fans will expect better on home soil against Vitoria Guimaraes on Friday and their wishes are likely to be rewarded, albeit in unconvincing fashion, with the visitors expected to play their part in a lively Lisbon affair.
Porto v Benfica Tips Summary
Best Bet - Benfica @ 7/5
Alternative Bet - Gianluca Prestianni to be first goalscorer @ 8/1
Bet Builder - Benfica to win the first half, William Carvalho 1+ shot on target & Vangelis Pavlidis to score @ 27/4
Porto v Benfica Prediction
Best Bet: Benfica @ 7/5
Marco Silva's first two away results as Benfica manager were a 2-1 loss to St Gallen and a 1-1 draw at Hearts in Europa League qualifying.
However, the former Fulham boss has watched his team move through the gears in recent weeks and they won their last five road fixtures by an aggregate score of 19-1.
Benfica thrashed Casa Pia 7-0, Maritimo 3-0 and Moreirense 4-0 in their first three Primeira Liga away matches and they can extend their winning streak at champions Porto.
Silva's fine start to his career with the Lisbon giants continued with this week's 2-0 Europa League win at AC Milan, where key forwards Vangelis Pavlidis and Gianluca Prestianni were among the substitutes.
Benfica's attacking depth could prove decisive against Porto, who failed to register a shot on target in their 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.
Last season's league meetings between these rivals both ended in draws but Benfica beat Porto 4-1 at home and away in 2024/25.
Porto's winning start to the domestic season has come against modest opposition.
They beat Alverca, Rio Ave, Arouca and promoted Academico Viseu in their first four games and had to come from behind in their last two wins against Moreirense and Casa Pia.
Porto were outclassed by Manchester City, who had ten shots on target on matchday one, and may well come unstuck against an exciting Benfica side on Sunday.
Alternative Bet: Gianluca Prestianni to be first goalscorer @ 8/1
Benfica manager Marco Silva rested some first-team regulars for Wednesday's Europa League trip to Milan, where Gianluca Prestianni came off the bench for the last 20 minutes.
The Argentinian youngster has been an ever-present in this season's Primeira Liga, scoring five goals and setting up another two in six starts.
Prestianni has already eclipsed his tally of three goals in the league in 2025/26 and his shooting stats suggest he could be set for a prolific campaign.
He averages 4.3 shots per 90 minutes in the Primeira Liga – better than Benfica's top scorer Vangelis Pavlidis's mark of 3.7 – and looks a cracking bet to open the scoring in Sunday's big game.
Porto v Benfica Bet Builder Tip
Benfica to win the first half
William Carvalho 1+ shot on target
Vangelis Pavlidis to score
Pays 27/4
Benfica have been leading at half-time in seven of their last eight games and Porto conceded the first goal in their last two league matches against Moreirense and Casa Pia. Back Benfica to win the first half.
Porto's William Carvalho scored 12 goals in just 1,795 minutes of Primeira Liga and Europa League action last term and has had seven shots on target in six league starts in 2026/27.
Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis scored a hat-trick in this fixture in 2024/25 and the Greece international has bagged 14 goals in his last 11 appearances in all competitions.
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Key Match Stats
Porto have won all six of their Primeira Liga matches this season
Gabri Veiga has contributed three goals and three assists in six league starts for Porto
Three of Porto's six league wins this term were by a 2-0 scoreline
Benfica won four of their last five away fixtures to nil
Vangelis Pavlidis has scored eight goals in his first six league appearances for Benfica this season
Benfica have been leading at half-time and full-time in seven of their last eight games in all competitions
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
