Liga Bwin: X-ray of the Benfica-Vitória SC clash

Leader of the Liga Bwin, Benfica hosts Vitória SC this Saturday, March 18, at 6 pm, at Estádio da Luz, in a game from matchday 25.

After the triumph in Funchal against Marítimo (0-3), the reds return to the Cathedral and will face Vitória FC, in what will be the last match before the international break.

Up to matchday 24, the team coached by Moreno has amassed 40 points, as the result of 12 triumphs, four draws, one of which was against Benfica in the reverse fixture (0-0), and eight losses.

The teams will meet for the 180th time. The Reds have a balance of 124 wins (69%) and 30 draws (17%), and, at home, the record is even more favorable, given the 72 wins (82%) and 11 draws (12%). Only on five occasions (6%) were the "minhotos" victorious.

With 65 points, Benfica arrives at the match with the best attack of the competition (61 goals) and has the top scorers of the competition: Gonçalo Ramos and João Mário, both with 15 goals.

The reds have only dropped two points at home when they drew against Sporting (2-2). The next opponent has 24 goals scored and, in 11 matches away from the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, they suffered five losses, won four times, and drew two.

The men under Roger Schmidt are the team with more ball possession (63.5%), a better record than the “vimaranenses” (48.9%), as witnessed by the Wyscout platform.

In an analysis of the attacking stats, the Reds register 392 shots against 268 for the team from Minho.

The situation is similar in crosses. To date, Vitória SC has done 340 (30.6% accuracy), while Benfica leads this ranking (540), with an accuracy percentage of 38.1.

With a total of 649 touch in the opponents box, also in this index the reds occupy the top position, surpassing the "vimaranenses" (341).

Benfica also ranks first in passes (14,775 and 87.9 success rate). The rivals are far behind (9023 and 82.7% success rate).

Also in this aspect, the Liga Bwin leader also has an advantage in the parameter of passes into the final third (1750), and Vitória FC arrives at the Luz match with 1103, a significant difference.

A look at the back line of both teams shows that Benfica has the best defense in the competition (13 goals) and is the team that allows the fewest shots (152). Vitória SC, on the other hand, has 24 goals conceded (sixth-best team) and ranks as the fifth team that allows the fewest shots on goal (253).

The reds are the team with the best record when it comes to defensive duels won (64.4% success in the 1726 clashes). Vitória FC are not far: 61.2% success in 1632. If the Reds have 303 fouls committed, the team that commits the fewest fouls in the League, and Vitória has 358 (16th team that commits more fouls).

In the last round, in which Vitória was defeated at home by Arouca (0-2), Moreno set the team in 3x4x3 with the following starting XI: Rafa Oliveira, André Amaro, Ibrahima Bamba, Mikel Villanueva, Miguel Maga, Tiago Silva, Dani Silva, Afonso Freitas, Jota Silva, Safira and André Silva.