Benfica are unlikely to slip up at Chaves

Primeira Liga
9pm Monday

Last season's double winners Benfica have already started this campaign by collecting more silverware in the Portuguese Super Cup and their domestic dominance is unlikely to end this term.

Benfica beat Guimaraes 3-1 in the Super Cup at the beginning of August and then opened up their league campaign with a victory over Braga by the same score.

Just like every summer key men have departed, but the Eagles have still managed to fly high and Portugal's biggest club should rightly expect to beat Chaves on the road.

Goalkeeper Ederson was the most expensive departure as he went to Manchester City, while centre-back Victor Lindelof joined Manchester United and right-back Nelson Semedo departed for Barcelona for a combined figure of over £90m.

Manager Rui Vitoria also has injury and suspension issues yet they are way clear of most sides in Portugal having won the title in four consecutive years.

Vitoria's side are understandably short-priced favourites but odds-against quotes about Benfica winning in a match featuring under 3.5 goals looks the way to go.

Fifteen of Benfica's last 16 league away wins have featured no more than three goals and the last eight victories have been to nil.

Chaves were 44 points behind Benfica last season but finished a respectable 11th thanks to excellent home results which saw them lose just three times.

However, all of those defeats came at home to the top four and the big two of Porto and Benfica both left with maximum points thanks to 2-0 victories.

Recommendation
Benfica to win & under 3.5 goals
1pt 6-5 Coral, Ladbrokes

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