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| We enter the first round of the Portuguese league, with nine matches taking place throughout the week. |
We enter the first round of the Portuguese Primeira Liga, with nine matches taking place throughout the week starting this coming Sunday.
Sunday 6 August
11/2 Aves | Draw 3/1 | Sporting Lisbon 5/10 (19:00)
Newly-promoted Aves moved up the ranks to play in the Primeira Liga. Aves finished runner-up last season in the Segunda Liga, with 23 wins from 42 wins, scoring 63 goals. Their opponents, Sporting Lisbon, are a top seed club with 18 top flight titles under their belt. This will be a great introduction for Aves as Sporting Lisbon will put them to the test. I’d back Sporting to win by a goal against the new kids on the block.
29/20 Setubal | 2/1 | Moreirense FC 2/1 (21:15)
Setubal finished 12th last season, suffering the fifth worst losing record, and only managing 10 wins from 34 matches. Setubal carries quite a young side with eight players being 25 years old and under. Moreirense finished at 15th place, losing 17 from their 34 matches. This is tough to call as both teams are regular bottom tier features. With home advantage, bet on Setubal for a close win.
Monday 7 August
29/20 Portimonense SC | 39/20 | Boavista 21/10 (18:00)
In what will be one of the crackers of the opening round of fixtures, Segunda liga winners, Portimonense, will face a strong Boavista outfit. Portimonense won 25 matches from their 42 games, winning the league by two points. They netted a staggering 70 goals and conceded a mere 39. Once upon a time, Boavista used to be title contenders, now they find themselves maintain middle table finishes. Boavista finished ninth just inside the top 10. Back the season veterans Boavista to claim the win.
11/10 Feirense | 43/20 | Tondela 26/10 (20:00)
Feirense had a decent season when they finished in eighth place. The hosts have the likes of Thiago Silva in midfield, players who can control the game. Their opponents, Tondela, survived relegation on goal difference last season. Get on the win for Feirense against a struggling bottom tier side.
17/20 Rio Ave | 23/10 | Belenenses 33/10 (22:00)
Rio Ave finished seventh last season, winning 14 from 34 matches, a good record that they’ll want to improve on in order to finish in the top five this season. Their opponents, Belenenses, struggled their way to 14th place, winning nine, drawing nine, and losing 16 matches. This looks like an easy pick with an outright win for Rio Ave.
Tuesday 8 August
1/1 Maritimo | 22/10 | Pacos Ferreira 29/10 (17:00)
Last season’s sixth place finishers Maritimo won 13, drew 11, and lost 10 of their matches. A low scoring record and a consistent string of draws left them just four points away from the top five. Pacos Ferreira have a tough encounter ahead of them, Ferreira managed eight wins the whole season, a record they’ll need to improve on going into the new season. Back the hosts at even money.
Wednesday 9 August
2/11 FC Porto | 11/2 | Estoril 14/1 (20:00)
Last season’s runners-up, FC Porto, will be gutted following their six-point deficit from winners Benfica. Porto have the talented veteran Iker Casillas amongst a star studded group of players. Top-10 finishers, Estoril, only won 10 games last season, losing 16 matches. Based on head to heads Porto have dominated with 22 wins, while Estoril have only win 10. Get on Porto here, despite the short price.
7/20 Benfica | 38/10 | Braga 15/2 (22:00)
In another of this week’s spectacle, defending champions take on fifth place finishers from last season, Braga. Benfica are favourites to win their fifth consecutive league title. Braga scored 51 goals, conceding 36, winning 15 matches from 34. Bet on the defending champions for the win.
Thursday 10 August
13/20 Guimaraes | 26/10 | GD Chaves 9/2 (22:00)
Fourth place finishers, Guimaraes, won 18 matches from 34 games played. They’ll be hoping to go one up and go into the top three. Chaves finished with eight wins from 34 matches, and they’ll need to improve majorly in order to compete with the likes of top seed Guimaraes. Bet on Guimaraes for the win.
TREBLE @ 14/10
Benfica Win 7/20
FC Porto Win 2/11
Sporting Lisbon Win 5/10
Written by Lungelo Mdladla
