Boavista and Benfica draw the curtains on round six of the Portuguese Primeira Liga when they go head to head at the Estadio do Bessa on Monday.

Match preview

Boavista's early-season struggles continued last Monday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Estrela Amadora after giving up their lead twice at the Estadio Jose Gomes.

Bruno Onyemaechj and Ilija Voktic found the back of the net to put the visitors ahead but Estrela replied with goals of their own through Kikas and former Manchester United winger Luis Nani as both sides settled for a share of the spoils.

Off the back of a 15th-placed finish last season, Boavista kicked off the new campaign with promise as they secured a 1-0 opening-day victory away to Cara Pia on August 10, but a run of just two points from their subsequent four matches has seen them crash back down to earth.

With Monday's stalemate, Cristiano Bacci's men have now failed to win 13 of their last 14 Primeira Liga matches — losing nine and claiming four draws — with the narrow victory over Casa Pia in the season opener back in August being the exception.

Next up for Boavista is the challenge of taking on an opposing side who are unbeaten in 17 of their last 20 encounters— claiming 14 wins and three draws — a run that does not bode well as they look to secure their first home win since beating Moreirense 1-0 on March 9.

Benfica, on the other hand, picked up a dream start to the 2024-25 Champions League campaign as they secured a 2-1 victory over Serbian powerhouse Red Star Belgrade on Thursday.

Kerem Akturkoglu and fellow Turkish international Orkun Kokcu scored first-half goals at the Rajko Mitic Stadium to put the visitors in the driver's seat before 24-year-old striker Milson pulled one back for Red Star Belgrade in the 86th minute.

This was in keeping with their fine run of results in the Primeira Liga, where As Aguias have bounced back from August's opening-day loss against Famalicao to secure three wins and one draw from their subsequent four matches.

Benfica had to show their mettle in their most recent league outings as they fought back from behind to grab a 4-1 victory over Santa Clara last Saturday courtesy of goals from Akturkoglu, Florentino Luis, Antonio Silva and Angel Di Maria.

Bruno Lage's men will look to pick up from where they left off in the Champions League as they journey to the Estadio do Bessa on a run of four back-to-back away games without a win in the Primeira Liga, losing twice and claiming two draws since a 3-1 victory at Farense on April 22.

player injuries

boa vista

10 (Central Midfielder) Recinho

99 (Goalkeeper) Goncalves

12 (Goalkeeper) Luis Pires

benfica

85 (midfielder) Sanches

6 (Defender) Alexander Barr

47 (Forward) Gouvia

44 (Defender) Thomas Araujo

possible starting lineup: