As the Primeira Liga title race reaches its dramatic conclusion, Benfica travel to Braga needing all three points on the final day of the season—and a helping hand from elsewhere—to have any chance of claiming the championship ahead of their Lisbon rivals.
Benfica missed a golden opportunity to take control last weekend, drawing 1-1 with Sporting Lisbon in a clash that could have decided the title. Now level on 79 points with Sporting, the Eagles trail due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Francisco Trincão put Sporting ahead early with a long-range strike, but Kerem Akturkoglu equalized after the hour mark. Despite a late surge, Bruno Lage’s side couldn’t find a winner, leaving their title hopes dependent on Sporting slipping up in their simultaneous match against Vitoria de Guimaraes.
Benfica, though, come into the final round in excellent form, having gone unbeaten in 14 league games, with 12 wins and just two draws. They've also won their last seven away fixtures in the league, and they’ll be hoping to make it eight in a row at the Estádio Municipal in Braga.
With the Taça da Liga already secured—and a Portuguese Cup final clash against Sporting looming—Benfica are still chasing a treble. But first, they must focus on doing their part and hoping Sporting falter.
Braga, meanwhile, have stumbled at a crucial stage in their push for third place. After five wins from six, a run of two 1-1 draws (against Famalicão and Santa Clara) followed by a 2-1 defeat to Casa Pia has left them three points adrift of Porto and needing a miracle to leapfrog them on goal difference.
Carlos Carvalhal’s side would need to win and hope Porto lose to Nacional, while also making up a seven-goal differential. Regardless, Braga will be motivated to complete a rare league double over Benfica, having beaten them 2-1 in Lisbon earlier this season.
They’ve won six of their last seven home games in the league and will be eager to end the season on a high—regardless of what’s at stake.
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