The first weekend of 2026 brings an intriguing Liga Portugal clash to the Estádio da Luz tonight, Saturday, January 3, 2026. Benfica, currently managed by José Mourinho, are looking to keep their unbeaten season alive as they host a surging Estoril Praia.
With the title race heating up, the "Eagles" cannot afford to drop points at home, while Estoril aims to break into the European spots following a strong end to December.
Match Details: Kick-off & How to Watch
Competition: Liga Portugal (Matchday 17)
Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026
Kick-off: 18:00 GMT / 13:00 ET / 21:00 EAT
Venue: Estádio da Luz, Lisbon
Referee: Anzhony Rodrigues (VAR: Tiago Martins)
Live Stream: Sport TV (Portugal) / GOLAZO (US)
Team Form: Unbeaten Eagles vs. The Canaries
Benfica: The Mourinho Invincibles
Benfica enters 2026 in 3rd place but with a historic statistic: they are unbeaten in the league this season (10 wins, 6 draws). Mourinho has turned the Luz into a fortress, conceding just six goals at home. However, two draws in their last five matches have allowed Porto and Sporting to pull ahead, making this "must-win" territory for the hosts.
Estoril Praia: The Giant Killers
Currently sitting 9th with 20 points, Estoril has been the "canary in the coal mine" for bigger clubs lately. They are coming off a dominant 4–1 victory over Alverca and a shock 1–0 win against Braga. Despite their mid-table position, their attacking output (27 goals) is higher than many teams in the top six.
Team News & Injury Report
Benfica Injury Updates
José Mourinho is dealing with a significant injury list, particularly in the wide areas and defense.
Out: Dodi Lukebakio (Broken ankle), Alexander Bah (ACL), Bruma (Achilles), and Leandro Barreiro (Ankle).
Doubtful: Henrique Araújo (Muscle fatigue).
Star Man: Vangelis Pavlidis, the league's top scorer with 14 goals, will lead the line.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedic, T. Araújo, Otamendi, Dahl; Rios, Barrenechea; Aursnes, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.
Estoril Praia Team News
The visitors are hampered by the loss of their most creative spark to international duty.
Out (AFCON): Rafik Guitane (Algeria) is a massive miss for the Canaries.
Injuries: Gonçalo Costa, Xeka, and Or Israelov (Thigh) are sidelined.
Player to Watch: Yanis Begraoui, who has 8 goals this season and will be the primary counter-attacking threat.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Robles; Carvalho, Bacher, Boma; Amaral, Holsgrove, Orellana, J. Carvalho; Marqués, Begraoui, Andrade.
Head-to-Head (H2H) Stats
Historical Dominance: Benfica has not lost a league game to Estoril in over a decade.
Last Meeting: Benfica won 2–1 at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota in May 2025.
Home Fortress: Benfica has won 8 of their last 9 home matches against Estoril, scoring an average of 2.5 goals per game.
Clean Sheets: The Eagles have kept a clean sheet in 4 of their last 6 meetings with the Canaries.
Betting Tips & Tactical Analysis
The "Mourinho Low-Block": Expect Benfica to control 60%+ possession, but Mourinho's tactical shift this season has focused on stability. "Under 3.5 Goals" has been a frequent winner for Benfica at home.
Pavlidis Anytime Scorer: With 14 goals in 16 games, the Greek striker is the favorite to find the net.
Estoril's Resilience: Without Guitane, Estoril will likely play for the draw, utilizing Jordan Holsgrove to sit deep and disrupt Benfica's rhythm.
Match Prediction
Benfica’s unbeaten run is a testament to their mental toughness under Mourinho. While Estoril is in good form, the absence of Guitane and the sheer atmosphere of the Estádio da Luz should be too much for the visitors. Pavlidis's clinical finishing will likely be the difference.
Final Score Prediction: Benfica 2–0 Estoril Praia
