Marítimo host Benfica at the Estádio do Marítimo on 5 September 2026 and on paper this is about as tough an early test as a promoted side could draw. Both teams are on seven points, which gives the game more bite than a typical promoted vs heavyweight fixture. Marítimo came up as Liga Portugal 2 champions and have spent the summer building something defensively solid, while Benfica under Marco Silva are doing what Benfica always do: pointing themselves at the title with half an eye on Europe. The home side have held their shape in the opening weeks, refusing to be overrun but seven points is where the parity ends.
Neither Mitchell van der Gaag nor Marco Silva has any history against each other, both having taken their jobs in June 2026, van der Gaag replacing Miguel Moita on 15 June and Silva replacing José Mourinho nine days earlier, which means this one comes down to tactical philosophy rather than prior results.
Marítimo's last four results read W-W-D-L in reverse chronological order. They beat Casa Pia 1-0 on 8 August and Famalicão 2-1 on 16 August, drew 2-2 with Académico de Viseu on 22 August, then lost 1-2 at Arouca on 29 August. Three of those four games were decided by a single goal, which tells you how fine the margins are at this level for them. The defeats and draws both came away from home, at the Estádio do Marítimo, they have looked capable of grinding out results. Benfica have been largely unbeaten in their early fixtures and sit fifth, with a goal difference that tells you they have not been parking the bus and their 2-1 win over Estoril in late August was the kind of game where they led, controlled and never needed a second gear.
Both sides have fitness concerns that could reshape how they line up. Marítimo are sweating over striker Alexandre Guedes and defender Nathanael Ogbeta, both doubtful through injury, which forces van der Gaag to think carefully about his shape at both ends. Without Guedes, Butzke leads the line, a more direct option who tends to run channels rather than hold up play, while losing Ogbeta leaves the backline more exposed than usual. Benfica have doubts over midfielder Aursnes, who picked up an ankle problem and Barrenechea, also listed as doubtful. Aursnes is the bigger miss: he provides the pressing triggers and positional discipline that keep Benfica's midfield compact and without him Sudakov may need to receive deeper and carry further, while Rafa Silva becomes the primary link between midfield and Pavlidis.
Marítimo's approach is pretty clear: organise, stay compact, use set pieces and hit on the counter when the chance arrives. Their 4-2-3-1 puts two midfielders in front of the defence while Tejón, Limbombe and Butzke operate ahead of them. Limbombe is the one to watch when Benfica push high, since he has the pace to exploit the space left behind. Without Guedes and Ogbeta, the setup might be even more conservative early on, with the counter attack as Plan A rather than a backup.
Pavlidis has been excellent in the early weeks, leading the Primeira Liga in goals with around five already and his movement in behind will test Marítimo's centre backs if the home side drop deep. Rafa Silva offers creativity from wide or through the middle, while Sudakov carries into space and switches play with real quality. The missing Aursnes may push Sudakov into a narrower, deeper role than suits him, leaving less connection between midfield and the front three, a marginal but real disruption. The key battles are Pavlidis against Marítimo's central defenders and Limbombe against Benfica's full backs in transition. Marítimo will also fancy their chances from set pieces, their most reliable route to goal against a side of this quality and Benfica's squad is deep enough that the absences do not fundamentally alter what they can do, whereas Marítimo's injury problems are harder to absorb given the thinner depth at the promoted side's disposal.
Benfica have dominated this fixture historically, winning 23 of roughly 28 meetings with Marítimo winning four and one drawn, including a 3-0 away win at the Estádio do Marítimo and five more victories since Marítimo's last win in the fixture back in 2020.
Set pieces are Marítimo's clearest path to threatening Benfica's goal and van der Gaag will know it. When you are outgunned in open play, dead balls become premium currency. Benfica need to be alert to deliveries into the box, especially with two key players absent who might have contributed to set piece runs or delivery. Marítimo's early home form gives them a case: they have kept things tight at the Estádio do Marítimo and Limbombe on the counter gives them an outlet that could hurt Benfica's full backs if they over commit.
Predicted score: Marítimo 1-4 Benfica. Pavlidis against two centre backs missing their first choice partner is enough to expect multiple Benfica goals and with Rafa Silva becoming the primary link to him in Aursnes's absence, Benfica have enough mechanism to build a lead. Marítimo have enough organisation and set piece threat to nick one, whether through a Limbombe counter or a delivery from a dead ball but Benfica's ability to sustain pressure across ninety minutes points to a comfortable away win.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
