Liga NOS Matchday 22 Odds & Picks: Benfica Aim for Bounce Back

• Portugal’s Liga NOS returns to action on Friday, as last-place Desportivo Aves (+560) look to claw their way out of the drop zone for the first time in months at home against Vitoria Guimaraes (-204)
• With the title race whittled down to a single point, Porto (-526) host sliding Portimonense (+1400) while league leaders Benfica (-200) face a winnable-but-not automatic game at Gil Vicente (+580)
• Get the all the odds and best bets from this weekend’s Liga NOS action below

Matchday 22 is upon us in Portugal, and league leaders Benfica aim to bounce back at Gil Vicente following their first back-to-back defeats of the season. We take a look at the three best bets to make this weekend.

Liga NOS Matchday 22 Odds

All odds taken Feb. 20

Pick 1: Belenenses vs. Maritimo

Though hardly the sexiest matchup on the schedule in Matchday 22, Belenenses (6-3-12) and Maritimo (5-9-7) should prove to be an entertaining matchup at the Estadio Jamor come Saturday.

Belenenses have managed points in just one of their four home games in 2020 (1-0-3), while Maritimo is a respectable 1-2-1 away from Madeira since the calendar turned to the new year.

Another factor to consider is Maritimo’s style of play on the road: Their last four away matches have seen a total of just five goals scored.

Neither is in great form, but it’s worth considering that Maritimo has earned points in 67% of their matches compared to Belenenses’ 43%.

Pick: Maritimo pk, +0.5 (-114)

Pick 2: Pacos Ferreira vs. Famalicao

The 2019-20 season has not been kind to Pacos Ferreira (4-4-13), as illustrated by their dismal overall record and emphasized by their current four-game losing skid.

Famalicao (9-6-6) have seen their share of highs and lows, too, but remain in the mix for the lower European spots; recent defensive issues have crept in on Joao Pedro Sousa’s squad, which has not won in their last five league outings.

Pacos are in awful form and utterly incapable of scoring (league-worst 12 GF in 21 games), while Famalicao are winless in five but boast a much better squad.

Pick: Famalicao (+143)

Pick 3: Gil Vicente vs. Benfica

Matchday 22 winds down in Barcelos, where Gil Vicente (6-8-7) will host league leaders Benfica (18-0-3).

Vitor Oliveira’s Gil Vicente team has already earned results at home against Porto (2-1) and Sporting (3-1) this season, and certainly pack an offensive punch with veteran Brazilian striker Sandro Lima (9) leading the line.

After just one blemish in their first 19 games (18-0-1), Benfica have now lost two in a row in the league — albeit against surging competition in Porto and Braga — and three of their last four in all competitions following Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League loss at Shakhtar.

Will Benfica pick up the win on Monday? Likely, but given Gil Vicente’s recent track record against the Big 3 at home, it’s hard to turn them down at a goal and a half.

Pick: Gil Vicente +1, 1.5 (-132)