Liga Bwin: X-ray of the Marítimo-Benfica clash

The leader Benfica returns to the Liga Bwin, after the European triumph, with a game in Madeira, this Sunday, at 6 pm, against Marítimo.

In all, Benfica and Marítimo have faced each other 100 times, counting all national competitions. Benfica has a clearly favorable record, as it has won 70 times, drawn 18 and lost only 12.

This season, in the only game played between the two teams, on matchday 5, the eagles won 5-0.

Benfica leads the Liga Bwin with 62 points, thanks to 20 wins, two draws and only one defeat. Almost in the opposite place, in 16th position, is Marítimo, with 16 points, resulting from four wins, four draws and 15 defeats.

The team coached by José Gomes is fighting to escape the relegation spots, but in the last six matches, it has only achieved one victory (on matchday 22, against Santa Clara). In the opposite direction are the Reds, who are on a run of seven consecutive wins in the League (in the previous round they beat Famalicão by 2-0).

With the best attack (58 goals scored) and the best defense (13 goals conceded), Benfica will face the team with the worst defensive record in the Liga Bwin (42 goals conceded). Marítimo has only scored 17 goals.

If we dig a little deeper, and consulting the Wyscout platform, we realize that Benfica also leads in the offensive chapter in crosses (520), touches in the box (608) and corners (183). In the shots chapter, the team is in 2nd position with 371. In these aspects of the game, Marítimo only appears in the top 5 with respect to corners, being the 5th team in this ranking of the League (132).

The reds are also differentiators in the build-up of play, as they lead in ball possession, with 64.2% (Marítimo is 8th, with 48.9%), and in passes (14,326).

It should also be noted that, in the defensive chapter, the Reds are the team that allows the fewest shots (5.81 per match). Marítimo is the 6th team that allows opponents the most shots (11.92 per match).

Individually, Gonçalo Ramos and João Mário stand out (with 15 and 14 goals scored, respectively), occupying the first two places in the list of the top scorers of the Liga Bwin. The Benfica midfielder is also in the top 5 for assists, with five, two less than the leader Grimaldo, who already has seven assists.

On the side of the island team, the statistical references are the three assists from Bruno Xadas and the four goals from defender Cláudio Winck, Marítimo's top scorer. Both players were on the pitch in the last match of the team from Madeira, against Gil Vicente, which ended in a 2-0 defeat. José Gomes played in 4x2x3x1, with the following Starting XI: Marcelo Carné, Cláudio Winck, Zainadine Júnior, Renê, Vítor Costa, Val, João Afonso, Riascos, Bruno Xadas, André Vidigal and Pablo Moreno.

Roger Schmidt, with the same system, fielded the following players against Club Brugge (5-1 win) on Tuesday: Odysseas, Bah, António Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo, Florentino, Aursnes, João Mário, Neres, Rafa and Gonçalo Ramos.

Marítimo and Benfica face each other this Sunday, at 6 pm, in Funchal, on matchday 24 of the Liga Bwin.