Portugal Primeira Liga Matchday 4 Odds & Picks: Sporting Face Porto, Farense Seek First Win

• After a long international break, Portugal’s Primeira Liga returns to action on Saturday for Matchday 4
• Six teams remain undefeated, including league leaders Benfica (3-0-0) and their opponents on Sunday, Rio Ave (0-3-0); Sporting (2-0-0) hosts Porto (2-0-1) in the marquee matchup of the round
• Get all the odds and best bets for Matchday 4 in Portugal’s top division below

In some respects — Benfica’s red-hot start, Sporting flying out of the gate under Ruben Amorim’s watchful eye, newly-promoted Farense losing each of their first three matches — Portugal’s Primeira Liga is following its usual blueprint.

In other ways, however, the league has been turned upside down.

Minnows Santa Clara have built on last season’s successful ninth-place finish and sit second in the league entering this weekend; Boavista and Rio Ave — both expected to make some noise this season with retooled squads — have combined for zero wins in six matches to begin the season.

Results like Maritimo’s win at Porto last matchday may be an early sign of a shift within the league: With revenues in free fall during COVID and the traditional power duo turning over their squads on a yearly basis, 2020-21 may be the beginning of a golden era for mid-table teams and upsets in Portugal.

Primeira Liga Matchday 4 Odds

All odds taken Oct. 15 at DraftKings

Pick 1: Sporting vs Porto

In a typical Portuguese league weekend, they don’t come much bigger than undefeated Sporting and reigning champion Porto.

Saturday’s matchup (3:30 pm EST) will likely draw the most eyes on the weekend — and the most betting money, as well.

It’s also Sporting’s debut at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, as Ruben Amorim’s squad won its first two matches of the season away from home; the Leoes were a good-not-great team (12-1-4) at home in 2019-20, but much has changed both in the manager’s seat and personnel-wise since then.

Amorim’s side has not conceded through two league games — albeit against middling competition in Paços Ferreira and Portimonense — while Porto has filled the net (tied first 10 GF) out of the gate in 2020-21.

Considering that Sporting appears to be a tough nut to crack, 65% of Primeira Liga matches this season have come in under 2.5 and two of the pair’s last three meetings at the Alvalade have ended 0-0, consider the ‘Under’ in Saturday’s marquee matchup.

Pick: U 2.5 (-152)

Pick 2: Farense vs Famalicao

At the extreme opposite end of the league table, Farense (0-0-3) will look to break their goose egg in the points column at home against Famalicao (1-1-1) on Sunday at 12:30 pm EST.

It’s fair to say Farense were hard-done-by in a valiant 3-2 defeat at Benfica last time out; Sergio Vieira’s squad is healthy entering Sunday’s contest and will be bolstered by the signing of Moroccan winger Bilel Aouacheria from Moreirense.

Famalicao are entering an intriguing four-game stretch of Farense (A), Boavista (H), Braga (A) and Maritimo (H). Since getting routed by Benfica in their season opener, Joao Pedro Sousa’s squad has beaten Belenenses (2-1) and drawn at Rio Ave (1-1) — and will know by the end of this four-game stretch whether last year’s near-miss on a European spot was a fluke or a sign of a club ready to make a genuine leap into the country’s upper tier.

For the time being, however, we like the value pick of Farense — emboldened by their near-result at the Estadio da Luz last matchday — with the protection of a draw no bet against a Famalicao team that’s been middle-of-the-road so far this season.

PICK: Farense DNB (-134)

Pick 3: Rio Ave vs Benfica

While three points from nine to begin the domestic season is hardly a positive for Rio Ave (0-3-0) given last year’s lofty fifth-place finish under the since-departed Carlos Carvalhal, it’s impossible to be sour about new boss Mario Silva’s squad.

A European triumph in Turkey over Besiktas — and the wild penalty shootout defeat against Italian giants AC Milan that followed — have elevated the club’s profile early this season, but results will need to be earned quickly in the Primeira Liga in order to remain in the mix for European qualification spots.

With that said, Benfica (3-0-0) is an overwhelming favorite based both on head-to-head record (21-1 in Benfica’s favor, with three draws) in league play and recent form; Jorge Jesus’ side has pounded opponents with a multi-pronged attack, netting multiple goals in all three matches to begin the domestic campaign.

Expect them to take care of business in Vila do Conde.

PICK: Benfica to win to nil (+175)