Primeira Liga Matchday 5 preview: Team news, stats, key fixtures

Topics: TV Schedules, TV Listings, Primeira Liga, Porto, Benfica, Famalicao

Famalicao will aim to continue its ascendency in the Primeira Liga despite Benfica and Porto breathing down their neck. Here is all you need to know ahead of Matchday 5:

Overview

It may well be early days yet but new entrants Famalicao has mounted a strong charge to present a rather interesting sight atop the Primeira Liga table. After four gameweeks, the underdogs have leaped ahead of favorites Benfica, FC Porto, Sporting CP and Braga to assume top-spot with four wins and a draw. Joao Pedro Sousa's side, alongside Boavista, are the only two clubs yet to record a defeat in the Portuguese top-flight league this summer.

This weekend, the fairytale start could stand another test of time with the Municipal 22 de Junho side hosting the bottom-ranked Pacos de Ferreira who has managed just a draw in the ongoing campaign. While on paper Famalicao should ace the test with flying colors, both Benfica and Porto will be hoping for an unlikely upset to ensue. Tied at nine points apiece, the former will try its luck up against 10th-placed Gil Vicente at home whereas the latter will travel to 12th-placed Portimonense.

Normally, Sporting CP should be in the mix making life difficult for both the Eagles and the Dragon but a surprise 3-2 home defeat to Rio Ave demoted Marcel Keizer's side to seven position. On Saturday, they will hope to trump Boavista away from home in a bid to catch up with the top three.

Despite ranking among the top teams in Portugal, Braga's struggles from last season has once again resurfaced. Ricardo Sa Pinto's men have lost two and drawn one of their last four outings. At the moment, they sit in 13th on the table and will fancy their chances coming up against 16th-placed Vitoria Setubal.

Team news: Who is injured or suspended for Matchday 5?

Benfica: The reigning champions will fancy their chances against Gil Vicente with the service of center-back German Conti. The defender is currently recovering from a muscle injury but is expected to be out for long. Gedson Fernandes will be amiss in the upcoming game after picking up a foot injury.

Tyronne Ebuehi, Gabriel, and Chiquinho are also unavailable.

Braga: For Braga, Pablo Santos, Vitor Tormena, Paulino, Tiago Sa and Wilson Eduardo are all not in their best shapes to play this weekend.

Sporting CP: Jovane Cabral (Muscle injury) and Stefan Ristovski (unavailable) will not recover in time to take on Boavista in the away trip. Uruguay center-back Sebastein Coates is supended for the upcoming encounter after picking up a second booking in the defeat to Rio Ave.

Porto: Veteran center-back Pepe is rule out of action for an indefinite period with a knee injury for the Dragons.

Famalicao: No injury concerns.

Key facts

Famalicao ranks as the best newly placed team in all of Europes's top 8 leagues.
Benfica has scored at least once in over 10 years of meeting Gil Vincente.
Sporting CP has won just two matches in its last 10 outings in all competition.
The Matchday 3 defeat to Porto was the first time Benfica dropped points at home was the first time in a competitive game since the Eagles lost 3-1 to the same opponents in January 2019.