Benfica host Sporting Braga on Monday evening (8:15 PM local time) in Matchday 33 of the Portuguese Liga, the third-last round of the season. The encounter sees Benfica battling for second place, while Sporting Braga aim to secure fourth.
In José Mourinho’s squad, defender Nicolás Otamendi and midfielder Richard Ríos are suspended, while José Neto is also unavailable. On a positive note, Tomás Araújo returns to the selection.
For the visitors, who were eliminated in the Europa League semifinals last Thursday, several players are sidelined through injury: defenders Sikou Niakaté, Bright Arrey-Mbi, and Adrian Barisic, as well as midfielders Florian Grillitsch and Diego Rodrigues. The availability of Ricardo Horta remains uncertain after an injury sustained in the home match against Freiburg.
Benfica sit second with 76 points, level with third-placed Sporting but ahead on head-to-head record. Sporting Braga are fourth with 57 points, five clear of fifth-placed Famalicão.