On Sunday, 2 June, in the second leg of the Portuguese Championship play-offs, "ABC" will face "Portimonense" at home. The second division representative achieved an away victory in the first meeting with a score of 2:1, so the black and whites need to win at all costs.
The match will take place at the Estádio Desportivo das Aves in Vila das Aves.
ABC produced an excellent performance in the first leg (a 1:2 away win), and now the underdog holds all the cards to finish the job on their home ground and secure the coveted ticket to the elite division. Goals from Anthony Correia and Bernardo Martins put the red and whites ahead, but in the dying moments, Teixeira unfortunately sent the ball into his own net. Despite finishing third in the league table of the national championship, the team won only one of the last five regular-season games, losing to Porto B (0:2) away and Tondela at home in the final round (0:1).
It's important to note that ABC has failed to win their last four home games, ranking fifth in the overall second division standings for points earned at home. Notably, ABC conceded more than one goal in just one of their previous five encounters. Midfielder Pacheco (1 goal this season), sent off in the first leg, will be suspended on Sunday evening.
Portimonense is in a difficult position after a home defeat and will be forced to fight back (the first match ended 1:2). The top-flight side dominated possession and had 26 attempts on goal but managed to score only thanks to an own goal by ABC centre-back Teixeira. In their last away match in the national championship, the visitors beat Farense (1:3), but overall, they have won only 2 of their last 16 matches in all competitions!
Having finished 15th last year to avoid relegation, Portimonense is now in the promotion/relegation play-offs (16th in the overall standings), having won just eight victories all season. It’s important to note that the visitors performed quite well away from home in the championship: they ranked 10th for points earned away with 17 points, scored 21 goals, and conceded 41.
The first match was the first-ever meeting between these teams, and ABC succeeded away with a 1:2 scoreline.
ABC looked very good away a few days ago and will do everything possible to maintain their advantage in the second leg. However, it was Portimonense who controlled the game on Thursday and had more chances to score. The visitors performed well away throughout the season, and now they face a lower division side. I’m betting on the class to prevail – a victory for the black and whites with a handicap of 0.
ABC has conceded eight goals in their last four home games, so betting on the individual total for the opponent over 1 goal seems safe.
Portimonense will be forced to play offensively, so they’ll likely dominate and attack more. I’m betting on the visitors' win on corners with a handicap of 0.
Both teams are ready to leave everything on the pitch, as a place in the elite division of Portugal is at stake. Betting on a total yellow card count over 3.5 seems sensible.
I predict a final score of 0:1 in favour of Portimonense.
# | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | G | PTS | |
1 | Sporting CP | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 16:2 | 12 | |
2 | FC Porto | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7:2 | 9 | |
3 | Vitoria Guimaraes | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4:2 | 9 | |
4 | Famalicao | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7:2 | 9 | |
5 | Santa Clara | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8:4 | 9 | |
6 | Braga | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5:2 | 8 | |
7 | Benfica | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5:3 | 7 | |
8 | Moreirense | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7:6 | 7 | |
9 | Rio Ave | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 3:5 | 6 | |
10 | Gil Vicente | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 4:5 | 5 | |
11 | Boavista | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1:2 | 4 | |
12 | AVS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 5:7 | 4 | |
13 | Nacional | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 4:8 | 4 | |
14 | Arouca | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 2:5 | 3 | |
15 | Casa Pia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 1:6 | 3 | |
16 | Estoril | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -4 | 1:5 | 2 | |
17 | Estrela | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -5 | 1:6 | 1 | |
18 | SC Farense | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -9 | 1:10 | 0 | |
1 | Sporting CP | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 6 | |
2 | FC Porto | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 6 | |
3 | Vitoria Guimaraes | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 6 | |
4 | Famalicao | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 6 | |
5 | Benfica | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 6 | |
6 | Rio Ave | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 6 | |
7 | Braga | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 4 | |
8 | Moreirense | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 4 | |
9 | Gil Vicente | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 4 | |
10 | AVS | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 4 | |
11 | Santa Clara | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2:3 | 3 | |
12 | Nacional | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3:6 | 3 | |
13 | Arouca | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 3 | |
14 | Boavista | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0:1 | 1 | |
15 | Estoril | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1:4 | 1 | |
16 | Casa Pia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0:3 | 0 | |
17 | Estrela | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0:4 | 0 | |
18 | SC Farense | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1:7 | 0 | |
1 | Sporting CP | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11:1 | 6 | |
2 | Santa Clara | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 6 | |
3 | Braga | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 4 | |
4 | FC Porto | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2:2 | 3 | |
5 | Vitoria Guimaraes | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 3 | |
6 | Famalicao | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4:2 | 3 | |
7 | Moreirense | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3:4 | 3 | |
8 | Boavista | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 3 | |
9 | Casa Pia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:3 | 3 | |
10 | Benfica | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1:3 | 1 | |
11 | Gil Vicente | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0:3 | 1 | |
12 | Nacional | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1:2 | 1 | |
13 | Estoril | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0:1 | 1 | |
14 | Estrela | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1:2 | 1 | |
15 | Rio Ave | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1:5 | 0 | |
16 | AVS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3:6 | 0 | |
17 | Arouca | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1:4 | 0 | |
18 | SC Farense | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0:3 | 0 |
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