Liga Betclic: Farense-Benfica X-ray

After returning to winning ways in the Liga Betclic against Moreirense (3-0), Benfica will lock horns with Farense on matchday 30 this Monday, April 22 (8:15 pm).

At the Estádio de São Luís, Roger Schmidt 's side will face the 10th-placed team in the league, who have won 19 of their 31 points at home. The eagles' GPS points to Faro, where, in 24 league matches, they have won 11 and drawn 8.

In the reverse fixture of the 13th round, the Eagles and the Algarve side drew (1-1) at the Cathedral, in a match in which Benfica dominated and had numerous chances to win.

With 29 matches played, Benfica is the Liga Betclic team with the most pass attempts (15,829) and the highest pass effectiveness percentage (86.7%), while Farense is in last place in both rankings (9,990 and 77.4%, respectively).

In terms of possession, the Eagles have 57.8% of the ball, compared to 42% for their opponents, who have the lowest percentage of the 18 teams in the league. In terms of individual actions, the Reds are the team that takes the most chances when dribbling (974 attempts), in contrast to the Algarve side, which has the fewest dribbles (561).

The figures illustrate a tendency for the Eagles to play more possession-based football, while Farense, the team with the highest percentage of long passes (15%), show a penchant for direct play.

In terms of shots, the picture is almost identical. With 466 shots, Benfica is the team with the most shots in the league, while Farense (317) occupy the bottom half of this particular table. However, despite this difference, the Algarve's efficiency is noteworthy: they are the third team in the Liga Betclic with the most shots on target (40.7%), in a ranking led by the Eagles (42.1%).

With 12 goals in the competition, Rafa is the eagles' top scorer, while Bruno Duarte (who won't be included in José Mota's squad due to suspension) has a similar status at Farense, with 11 goals, as well as being the league's most requested player for aerial duels (283). Benfica's number 27 also leads the league in assists (11).

Ranked second in the number of defensive duels (2018), José Mota's team tends to play a more physical game, although the Reds have a higher percentage of effectiveness in this parameter: 59.9% against 57.9%.

The team from the Algarve is also the team that has registered the most shots against (493) of the 18 teams in the Championship. Goalkeeper Ricardo Velho has 129 saves to his name (14 of which came in the first-round tie against Benfica) and has been Farense's great defensive guarantee. A regular starter for the Eagles, Trubin has also been outstanding, being the keeper with the most expected goals saved (9.81) in the Liga Betclic.

In the games of the matchday 29 of the Liga Betclic, which ended with a win over Moreirense (3-0), Roger Schmidt fielded an eleven made up of Samuel Soares, Bah, Tomás Araújo, Morato, Álvaro Carreras, João Neves, João Mário, Neres, Tiago Gouveia, Kökcü and Arthur Cabral.

José Mota used a 4x3x3 formation with Ricardo Velho, Pastor, Gonçalo Silva, Igor Rossi, Talys, Cáseres, Cláudio Falcão, Rafael Barbosa, Belloumi, Bruno Duarte and Marco Matias in Farense's 1-1 draw at Vitória SC.