Benfica vs Famalicao Predictions, Lineups & Betting Tips

Benfica vs Famalicao Predictions, Lineups & Betting Tips

Match Details: December 22, 2025 | Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica | Liga Portugal | 20:45 GMT

Portugese giants Benfica play host to traditionally mid-table Famalicao in a clash in the top tier of Portugese football in a game that is essentially a must-win for the hosts if they want to have any hopes of catching runaway leaders Porto. Only seperated by three places, this still looks like it should be a victory for Benfica, who are yet to taste defeat in the league this season and have, on paper, a much stronger side. While Famalicao have had a decent start by their standards and could offer somewhat of a threat, we don't anticipate them having enough to cause serious problems for their opposition.

Key Betting Tips: Benfica to Win at 1.30 odds on BoyleSports, or 1.29 odds on talkSPORT BET both represent good value based on the tip provided by Football Park's advanced algorithm.

Most of the facts of this game indicate a Benfica win in this game and the chances of an upset are pretty slim, so we would say it's worth backing the safe option for this one.

Benfica vs Famalicao Predicted Lineups

Benfica Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Anatoliy Trubin; Samuel Dahl, Nicolás Otamendi, António Silva, Tomás Araújo; Enzo Barrenechea, Richard Ríos; Andreas Schjelderup, Fredrik Aursnes, Franjo Ivanović; Vangelis Pavlidis

José Mourinho has several injury concerns on his mind heading into this one, as it looks like several pretty important players will be missing. Both Bruma and Alexander Bah are major doubts for this game, but there is still a chance that they make an appearance, whereas Leandro Barreiro and Dodi Lukebakio will definitely miss out.

Famalicao Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ivan Zlobin; Rafa Soares, Justin De Haas, Ibrahima Ba, Gustavo Garcia; Mathias De Amorim, Tom Van De Looi; Antoine Joujou, Gustavo Sa, Gil Dias; Simon Elisor

Pedro Bondo is away on international duty with Angola and looks to be the only confirmed absence heading into this. Both Oscar Aranda and Umar Abubakar will need late fitness checks, however, to determine if they will be able to make an appearance.

Benfica vs Famalicao Current League Standings

The hosts are one of only two sides who have gone unbeaten in the league so far this season, sharing the honour with Porto, though they developed an early season habit of drawing just a little too much. Porto, meanwhile, have dominated the division so far and look like running away with the title, while Benfica are left wondering how they have fallen eight points behind their rivals at only the halfway point of the campaign. They even find themselves behind Sporting, meaning they take up the third spot, but the title isn't out of reach come the end of the season, they just need to continue turning draws into wins. As a result, this game is pretty much a must-win and, to be completely honest, they probably will.

Famalicao are a very consistent upper-mid table side, and that has been no different this season, as they currently hold sixth place off the back of a solid start to the season. Their defensive record is rivaling that of the teams right at the top of the table, indicating solid foundations that the teams around them are lacking, but it is important that they build off of that and offer a threat going forward if they want to climb into territory that they don't often feature in. They're only two points behind fourth, a position that would offer them Conference League qualification if they ended the season there, so the opportunity is there to push themselves into a very promising position, but this will be a very tough mountain for them to climb to do so.

Benfica vs Famalicao Head-to-Head Timeline

This is a fixture historically dominated by Benfica, as you would probably expect given the quality difference in the sides, with a total of 10 wins in their last 15 meetings, with three games ending on level terms. Famalicao seem to have turned it into a bit more of a competition lately though, winning back-to-back games against the giants in 2024 to earn their only two victories over Benfica in recent years.

There's an interesting pattern in recent encounters of the winners being assured in front of goal and very solid at the back, with the victorious side keeping a clean sheet in each of the last five games between the two sides. Despite Famalicao starting to pick up a few results against Benfica lately, we expect this game's hosts to maintain their historical dominance and secure a win.

Recent Head-to-Head Results:

• January 17, 2025: Benfica 4-0 Famalicao (Liga Portugal)
• August 11, 2024: Famalicao 2-0 Benfica (Liga Portugal)
• May 5, 2024: Famalicao 2-0 Benfica (Liga Portugal)
• December 29, 2023: Benfica 3-0 Famalicao (Liga Portugal)
• November 25, 2023: Benfica 2-0 Famalicao (Taca de Portugal)

Benfica and Famalicao Recent Matches Analysis

Benfica Last 5 Matches:

• Benfica 2-0 Farense (A) - Taca de Portugal
• Benfica 4-0 Moreirense (A) - Liga Portugal
• Benfica 2-0 Napoli (H) - UEFA Champions League
• Benfica 1-1 Sporting (H) - Liga Portugal
• Benfica 2-1 Nacional (A) - Liga Portugal

Benfica have been in magnificent form as of late, unbeaten in eight with six wins in that time, as they appear to have solved their problem of drawing on too regular a basis. Their last three results have been especially positive, keeping clean sheets in all three wins, including against an incredibly competitive Napoli side spearheaded by Scott McTominay. To have only conceded two goals in their last five is a great sign for their defence, and when you add to that the 11 goals they have scored in response, it's clear that Benfica have found enough form to be a formidable side at this moment in time.

Famalicao Last 5 Matches:

• Famalicao 1-4 Porto (A) - Taca de Portugal
• Famalicao 4-0 Estoril (H) - Liga Portugal
• Famalicao 1-2 Braga (H) - Liga Portugal
• Famalicao 2-2 Moreirense (A) - Liga Portugal
• Famalicao 2-1 Estoril (A) - Taca de Portugal

Famalicao have, unlike their opponents, struggled to find form in recent weeks, with a mixed bag of two wins, a draw and two losses. On paper, this kind of form screams mid-table, so they'll be looking to consolidate and start turning results around to maintain their current league position. Their last two results seem to have inflated both their attacking and defensive records which were pretty reasonable beforehand; they have now scored in each of their last five, sitting at 10 goals in that time, which is a promising number to hold. Defensively, meanwhile, they have shipped nine goals, but the clean sheet in their trouncing of Estoril is certainly a positive that they'll want to focus on.

Benfica vs Famalicao Predictions

Our advanced algorithm analyses over 200 data points to generate these predictions with a 46.70% confidence in Benfica to Win. The model factors in current form, head-to-head records, player availability, and tactical matchups.

Best Benfica vs Famalicao Betting Tips

Football Park’s Best Bet: Benfica to Win @ 1.30 odds on BoyleSports - With a better side on paper and much better form than their opponents, this looks like it is pointing pretty comfortably in Benfica's direction, despite their injury concerns to key players. An upset probably isn't on the cards on this occasion, so it's worth taking the safe bet on this game and backing Benfica to walk away as winners.

Key Players to Watch: Benfica vs Famalicao

Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica): What a season the Greek striker is having, with 13 goals in 14 games in the league which, as you can imagine, has him topping the division's goalscoring charts. He's always been prolific in front of goal, but this season he seems to have unlocked another level as he enters the peak years of his career. He's on for his best goalscoring season and comes into this game high in confidence from his hat-trick against Moreirense a few weeks ago. Expect Pavlidis to cause plenty of problems for Famalicao, and to probably find the net again too.

Gustavo Sa (Famalicao): At just 21 years of age, this lad looks like he has a bright future in store for him based on the performances he's been putting in for Famalicao. Sa is enjoying what is set to be his most productive season in front of goal yet, already matching the goal tallies he set in each of his last two seasons in about half the amount of time, which has seen him score four and assist once in the league so far this campaign. He offers a serious threat going forward from the midfield but is also defensively assured considering his position, with his physicality becoming especially useful in winning defensive aerial battles.

Benfica vs Famalicao Match Facts

Referee: André Filipe Domingues Narciso

Stadium Information: Located in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica opened in 2003 and has a capacity of around 68,000.

Benfica vs Famalicao: Final Prediction

Benfica 3-0 Famalicao