Liga Portugal returns to the Azores this Friday, February 13, 2026, as S.L. Benfica travels to the Estádio de São Miguel to face Santa Clara. Kick-off is scheduled for 18:30 GMT (21:30 local time).
The narrative is a stark contrast of ambitions. Benfica (3rd, 49 points) arrives with the league's only unbeaten record still intact, chasing the tail of Porto and Sporting. Meanwhile, Santa Clara (16th, 17th points) is fighting to escape the relegation playoff spot, desperate to snap a three-match losing streak.
Match Information
| Feature | Details |
| Competition | Liga Portugal (Matchday 22) |
| Date | Friday, February 13, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 18:30 GMT / 13:30 ET |
| Venue | Estádio de São Miguel, Ponta Delgada |
| Capacity | 13,277 |
| TV Channel | Sport TV (Portugal) / GOLTV (US) |
Santa Clara: Backs Against the Wall
The Azoreans have endured a brutal start to 2026, failing to win in their last eight attempts. Following a 2–4 defeat to Estoril, Santa Clara finds themselves in 16th place—the relegation playoff position. Despite their struggles, they have shown a tendency to "play with width" and take frequent long shots, which could test a high-line defense.
Team News and Selection:
Key Absence: Midfielder Matheus Nunes is currently sidelined with an injury, a major blow to their ball progression.
The Goal Hope: M’Bala Nzola and Gabriel Silva will be the primary outlets on the break.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Batista; Calila, Venâncio, Rocha, Lima; Ferreira, Klismahn; Ricardinho, Lopes, Silva; Nzola.
Benfica: The Pursuit of Perfection
Under the management of José Mourinho (who took over in September 2025), Benfica has become a defensive fortress. They remain the only team in the league without a loss this season (14W, 7D). Coming off a 2–1 win over Alverca, the Eagles are looking to keep pace with the top two while managing a congested schedule that includes an upcoming Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Team News and Selection:
Injury Ward: Benfica is navigating a mini-crisis in defense. Alexander Bah, Amar Dedić, and Fredrik Aursnes are all nursing injuries. Richard Ríos and Dodi Lukébakio are also expected to miss out.
Golden Boot Leader: Vangelis Pavlidis is in world-class form, leading the league with 19 goals and proving to be the focal point of Mourinho’s "possession with purpose" style.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Trubin; Kaboré, A. Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Florentino, Barreiro, Kokçü; Bruma, Pavlidis, Aktürkoğlu.
? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
The Long Drought: Santa Clara has not beaten Benfica in their last 10 meetings (8 Benfica wins, 2 draws).
Defensive Wall: Benfica has kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 7 league matches.
Form Contrast: Benfica is undefeated in 35 consecutive Liga Portugal matches dating back to last season, while Santa Clara has lost their last 3.
The Reverse Fixture: Benfica secured a dominant 4–1 victory earlier this season at the Estádio da Luz.
Tactical Preview and Prediction
Mourinho will likely instruct Benfica to control the game through short passing and patience, waiting for Kokçü or Bruma to find a gap in Santa Clara’s low block. Santa Clara's best chance lies in the "island factor"—the often windy and unpredictable conditions in Ponta Delgada—and utilizing Gabriel Silva's pace on the counter.
However, the quality gap between the top scorer Pavlidis and a struggling Santa Clara defense is likely too wide to bridge.
Final Score Prediction: Santa Clara 0–2 Benfica
