'Eagles' reserves face a motivated underdog: prediction for Benfica vs OS Belenenses
The friendly match between Portuguese clubs Benfica and OS Belenenses will take place on July 24 at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. The hosts are expected to field mostly a reserve and youth lineup, as Benfica's main squad played a European fixture against St. Gallen the previous day.
Benfica: a chance for the next-in-line reserves
Benfica is balancing Europa League qualifying matches with their preparations for the new season, making this friendly primarily an opportunity to assess squad depth. Marco Silva intends to test young players and reserves who could step in for the regular starters during a packed schedule.
In their summer friendlies, the Lisbon side first lost 1-2 to Flamengo, then confidently defeated Villarreal 2-0. Even Benfica's experimental squad boasts a high level of quality, but the lack of established chemistry and the fatigue of certain players could prevent the hosts from turning the match into a rout.
OS Belenenses: a chance to test themselves against a giant
OS Belenenses came close to promotion but failed to get past Farense in the play-offs. After a narrow 0-1 away defeat, the team drew 0-0 at home and ultimately remained in Portugal's third division.
This match against Benfica will mark the visitors' first serious test of the summer. The gulf in class is clear, but facing Benfica's reserves gives Belenenses hope for a more balanced contest—especially if they maintain compactness and prevent the hosts from scoring early.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Benfica won their last friendly against Villarreal with a 2-0 scoreline.
- Two of Benfica's last three victories ended 2-0.
- OS Belenenses failed to score in both play-off matches against Farense, losing the tie 0-1 on aggregate.
The favorite will win, but not in a blowout: prediction for Benfica vs OS Belenenses
Even Benfica's second string surpasses the opposition in individual skill and should control the game for most of the match. However, the experimental lineup is unlikely to operate with perfect cohesion, and the friendly status will allow the coaching staff to make frequent substitutions and tactical adjustments throughout the contest.
OS Belenenses know that discipline and a compact defense will be their main weapons. The visitors have not lost by more than two goals this year, so backing them with a sizable positive handicap seems a safer bet than trying to predict the exact margin of a Benfica win.
