Benfica, leading the Portuguese league by 10 points, are looking to essentially wrap up the Primeira Liga title as they host rivals Porto in Lisbon on Friday.
Roger Schmidt also must keep one eye on the fast-approaching Champions League quarter-final tie against Inter Milan, with Benfica hosting the first leg on Tuesday. That may be in the back of their minds, knowing the double-digit cushion at the top of the table could afford them some wiggle room to focus on European play.
Porto, meanwhile, sit in second, and while they are hoping to make up some ground for an unlikely late-season charge, they also are looking over their shoulders at third-placed Braga just two points adrift, and Sporting CP five points further back.
It will be tough sledding at the league leaders, as Benfica have conceded just two goals in their last 10 Primeira Liga matches since January 21, a spectacular run of defensive form.
The Sporting News football betting expert Kyle Bonn shares his best bets, props, and high risk/high return fliers for some of the biggest matches in the sport each week. Since the start of 2023, his best bets have hit 52.5% of the time, while his overall selections have generated a profit of over 39 units thus far. He has also correctly predicted 44 of 78 match outcomes via his 3-way moneyline leans to date.
Benfica vs Porto match facts
- Date: Friday, April 7
- Kickoff Time: 1:00 pm ET / 6:00 pm BST / 3:00 am AEST (Sat, Apr. 8)
- Location: Estadio da Luz (Lisbon, Portugal)
- Official: Artur Soares Dias
- Last meeting: Porto 0-1 Benfica (Oct. 21, 2022 | Primeira Liga)
Benfica vs Porto prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Benfica (-110)
- Against the spread lean: Benfica -0.5 (-120)
- Score prediction: Benfica 1-0 Porto
Benfica are on a 12-match unbeaten run in the league, winning 11 of those including the past 10, obliterating the rest of the Portuguese top flight, but this match could have a different feel to it. Benfica, knowing they have a huge Champions League game in just four days, may rest some key players, and it depends on who they rest how this game could play out.
One prime candidate for the bench could be 35-year-old Nicolas Otamendi, but you'd expect striker Goncalo Ramos to see the field. Still, Benfica will know the importance of this match and should bring their best, as a 10-point lead isn't quite large enough to take too many risks.
| Benfica win | Draw | Porto win | Both teams to score Y / N | Over / Under 2.5 goals | BEN -0.5 | POR +0.5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) | -110 | +260 | +270 | -125 / -115 | -115 / -125 | -120 | -120 |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) | -109 | +250 | +270 | -135 / -115 | -110 / -120 | -111 | -119 |
| SkyBet (UK) | 17/20 | 13/5 | 14/5 | 4/6, 11/10 | 4/5, 10/11 | — | — |
| Neds (Australia) | 1.94 | 3.35 | 3.90 | 1.73 / 2.00 | 1.88 / 1.85 | — | — |
| Dafabet (India) | 1.93 | 3.37 | 3.93 | 1.74 / 2.02 | 1.89 / 1.85 | 1.88 | 1.86 |
Benfica vs Porto: best bet
- Pick: Both teams to score — NO
- Odds: -115 (BetMGM)
This is a tough match to play given it's hard to know how Benfica will approach it, but here's a play that affords lots of wiggle room.
If the hosts prioritise the Champions League match, it's easy to see them come up flat here, but if they go for it, their defensive record is stellar enough to earn a clean sheet in this match. While the under is also a decent choice, this selection has just slightly better odds while also giving a myriad of outcomes to provide a winner.
Benfica vs Porto live stream, TV channel
MORE: Watch Premier League matches live with Fubo in USA
| TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | GOLTV, Benfica TV | Fubo, Fanatiz |
| Canada | Benfica TV | Fubo |
| UK | BT Sport 3 | BT Sport |
| Australia | — | GOLTV Play |
| New Zealand | — | GOLTV Play |
| India | — | GOLTV Play |
| Hong Kong | — | GOLTV Play |
| Malaysia | — | GOLTV Play |
| Singapore | — | GOLTV Play |
