Santa Clara v Benfica: title push meets survival fight in the Azores | OneFootball

Santa Clara host Benfica in Liga Portugal on Friday, 13 February 2026 at Estádio de São Miguel, with the visitors protecting an unbeaten league season and the hosts trying to climb out of the relegation play-off place.

Santa Clara and Benfica meet with contrasting aims. The head to head strongly favours Benfica, who have won 11 of the 14 league meetings, though September's reverse fixture finished 1-1.

Santa Clara are winless in five league games, losing four on the bounce. Águias remain unbeaten in Liga Portugal and arrive with three wins and a draw from their last four league outings.

Encarnados are without Dodi Lukebakio, Alexander Bah and Richard Ríos through injury.

With 44 goals scored and just 12 conceded, plus 11 clean sheets and 59% possession this season, Águias could look to control the game, led by league top scorer Evangelos Pavlidis on 19. Santa Clara have managed 16 league goals and none from set pieces, so they may need to be clinical when chances arrive.

A win would take Encarnados to 52 points and close the gap on the top two. Santa Clara would move to 20 points with victory and could climb out of the relegation play-off place. Even a draw would keep them within reach of safety.