In a showdown that could feel more like an emotional rollercoaster than a football match, Benfica B hosts Chaves on January 17, 2026. It's a classic case of rising hope versus stagnant despair: Benfica B is looking to ride the momentum from their recent thrashings in the Premier League International Cup, while Chaves needs to bounce back after crashing hard against Marítimo. With Chaves clinging to fourth place at 26 points and Benfica B in tenth with only 22 points, both teams find themselves at a pivotal junction of the Segunda Liga season-one where they must assert their narratives and reshape their fates.
Predicted Lineups
Benfica B: GK: Ricardo Dias Ribeiro, DEF: José Neto, Gonçalo Oliveira, João Fonseca, Leandro Santos, MID: Diogo Prioste, Martim Ferreira, Gonçalo Moreira, FWD: Olívio Tomé, Jelani Trevisan Dumas. Chaves: GK: Marko Gudžulić, DEF: Tiago Simões, Bruno Rodrigues, Zach Muscat, Tiago Almeida; MID: Pedro Pinho, João Teixeira; FWD: Reinaldo, Roberto.
Let's dive into the whirlpool of stats and trends as these two teams clash.
First off-recent form is everything. Benfica B has rediscovered their attacking flair recently-evident in their last three matches with a staggering total of 13 goals scored across those outings. Their performances against youth sides may raise eyebrows about the quality of opposition-but scoring should never be taken lightly in football; just ask Arsenal about their droughts! The power dynamic rests firmly on offensive output here: if they can bring that Premier League energy into this matchup against Chaves and keep up that goal-scoring prowess featuring players like Gonçalo Moreira, who seems poised for stardom with multiple goals recently-notching four across his last two matches-then we might witness an electrifying display.
Meanwhile, Chaves' current trajectory is more akin to a slow-motion train wreck. Losing to Marítimo after conceding three goals highlighted some defensive frailties that simply can't go unaddressed if they want any shot at promotion this season. If you think about it like "Stranger Things," they've been chasing down monsters (in this case: opposing strikers) but are stumbling over their own shadow instead! Statistically speaking, Chaves has managed only one clean sheet in their last five outings-a stat so alarming it's reminiscent of an underdog horror film where no one is making it out alive without some serious soul-searching first!
Now let's hit the tactical battles looming on the horizon-the chess pieces set up for this encounter indicate something pivotal will unfold in midfield. In possession statistics during recent games: Benfica B has shown significant improvement as they've begun to dominate ball possession more consistently; averaging around 55% possession in their last five matches-flipping previous narratives where they were often outmuscled. This indicates a growing confidence and a more solidified game plan under pressure from Chaves' pressing style.
In contrast to Benfica's surging offense lies Chaves' disappointing metrics-they've struggled maintaining accuracy on shots lately and seem devoid of clinical edge upfront; notching just two goals against Marítimo screams missed opportunities! Roberto has been notably absent from the scoresheet despite getting ample chances-his performance thus far this season begs for rejuvenation akin to Rocky Balboa's comeback training montage!
But here's where it gets even murkier-despite having lost two consecutive matches leading up to this clash (0-1 vs Portimonense and then that debacle against Marítimo), Chaves remains capable of scoring; they've averaged 2 goals per match before these latest failures when firing on all cylinders earlier in December (beating Pacos Ferreira by two clear goals). It hints at latent potential waiting for reactivation!
Given how both teams have attacked poorly from different angles (Benfica flying high versus Chaves struggling mightily), expect either defense to be targeted sharply or basking in glory depending on whose style prevails first. As head-to-head records suggest there isn't much separating them historically-a tantalizing 1-1 draw back in August lingers fresh within memory-they're left with questions begging resolution come kick-off!
So how do I see this going? I predict Benfica B will continue riding high off that attacking wave while exploiting every defensive vulnerability available from a beleaguered Chaves side-who are likely still nursing those psychological wounds from recent defeats.
Final prediction: Benfica B triumphs convincingly with a scoreline of 3-1, driven by Moreira's likely continuation as an emerging threat and Dumas reinforcing his importance among teammates willing to rally back for pride.
Fasten your seatbelts because come January 17th-it's not just another game day; it's time for fireworks wrapped within tactical espionage at its finest!