Liga Betclic: X-ray of the Chaves-Benfica clash

Having won against Arouca (0-2) on matchday 2 of the 3rd round of the League Cup (Group B), Benfica is now focusing on the Liga Betclic. This Saturday, November 4, at 3:30 pm, the Reds face GD Chaves, at the Estádio Municipal Engenheiro Manuel Branco Teixeira, on matchday 10 of the competition.

The Eagles and flavienses will be face for the 38th time, with the balance largely in favor of the Reds, who have won 29 games (78%). The record also shows four draws (11%) on all fronts. 

Facing the 14th-placed team in the league table, Benfica is chasing its 8th Liga Betclic win, their 5th in a row as visitors.The previous four away wins have come against Estoril (0-1), Portimonense (1-3), Vizela (1-2) and Gil Vicente (2-3).

Going into this matchday, Roger Schmidt's men lead the way in terms of possession percentage, with 61.9%, compared to 47.3% for Chaves, who are 10th in this section, based on data from the Wyscout platform.

The Eagles are at the top of the table when it comes to touches inside the opponent's area (282), compared to 133 for the Trás-os-Montes side. Benfica also outscore their rivals in dribbling (350). Their next opponents have 226, in mid-table.

Still on the offensive side, the reds are the team with the most shots (157), with 37.6% hitting the target. Chaves have 113 shots, with 39.8% on target.

With 19 goals scored, Benfica have one of the best attacks in the league, with Di María (five goals) the most prolific scorer. On the Flavienses' side, Hector (seven goals) tops the list.

In terms of playmaking, Benfica came into this matchday with 5344 passes made and 86.7% efficiency, an indicator that beats the rest of the competition, including, of course, Moreno's side (3176 and 79.9% accuracy).

The team with the most passes in the final third (640), Roger Schmidt's side have the highest efficiency rate in this parameter (77.8%), compared to 57.4% for Chaves, who are second from bottom.

With assists, Rafa and Neres are the League's top assist providers, while Nwakali and Abass emerged as standouts for Chaves, with two.

In defensive terms, the national champions are one of the teams that allow the fewest shots (87; 8.47 per game). Chaves, on the other hand, have allowed 109 shots (10.54 per match) so far.

Compared to their next opponents, Benfica outperform their rivals in the percentage of defensive duels won (62.4% against 57.9%).

The figures also show that the flavienses are the most beaten team in the Liga Betclic (26 goals conceded).

In terms of intensity, Benfica are at the top of the Liga Betclic teams, with 6.6 duels and interceptions per minute of possession from the opponent, while Chaves are on 5.1.

In their last Liga Betclic match, against Vitória SC in Guimarães, Moreno's side were beaten 5-0. The flavienses fielded a 3x4x3 with the following players: Hugo Souza, Bruno Rodrigues, Steven Vitória, Ygor Nogueira, Guima, Rúben Ribeiro, Carraça, Sandro Cruz, Lameiras, João Correia and Hector.