Portimonense v Famalicão

Two teams who are in dire need of a positive result are Portimonense and Famalicão. After winning three straight in the league under new manager Rui Pedro Silva, Famalicão have drawn twice and lost twice, having fallen to defeat at home against Boavista on Saturday. Portimonense fell to their fourth consecutive defeat under Paulo Sérgio, a humiliating 2-0 loss to Belenenses-SAD, and will be without Brazilian defender Willyan da Silva Rocha in Sunday’s home match against Famalicão.

Portimonense have not won a single league match since December 12 when they defeated Moreirense 1-0. Nine days later, Portimonense played Famalicão in the Taça de Portugal Round of 16 and despite playing for 10 men for over an hour, they held onto a 1-1 draw in regulation before winning 4-2 in the penalty shootout.

The Algarvians have won their past two league matches against Famalicão and prevailed 3-0 on November 27, a win that seems a lifetime ago at this point. They have conceded two goals in each of their last four matches and are level on 29 points with Vizela and one point above Famalicão, in addition to being seven points clear of relegation. I don’t see too many goals coming from either side here, and I expect a hard-fought battle between teams who should just about avoid the drop this season.

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Santa Clara v Estoril Praia

After kicking off March with a win against Vizela, Santa Clara registered back-to-back scoreless draws to Famalicão and Belenenses-SAD before losing 3-0 to Porto at the Estádio do Dragão. Estoril began March with an impressive 0-0 draw to Gil Vicente and a 2-0 win against Portimonense, but they too have had cold water poured over their form as Benfica and Vizela came out victorious in back-to-back 2-1 wins. Both teams are headed for a comfortable mid-table finish with Estoril sitting three points above Santa Clara in seventh place whilst the Açoreanos themselves are 10 points clear of the drop. 

Santa Clara are entering their final days with right back Rafael Ramos, linked with a move to Corinthians, and midfielder Hidemasa Morita, linked with a move to Sporting and who missed out on Monday’s loss to Porto after picking up an injury with Japan on international break, and this state of uncertainty amongst the dressing room that comes with transfer speculation could play a role in how Santa Clara handle Bruno Pinheiro’s side at home. The last fixture between the two saw Estoril equalize in the 88th minute via a penalty from André Franco to take a 2-2 draw in Cascais, and I think both teams will struggle to keep a clean sheet in what could be another goal fest.

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Vitória de Guimarães v Porto

Despite parting ways with attacking talisman Luís Diaz in the January transfer window, Porto are on the cusp of achieving history under Sérgio Conceição. If the Dragons avoid defeat in Guimarães on Sunday, they will have the single longest unbeaten streak in the history of the Primeira Liga and put an end to Benfica’s 44-year-old record. It has been 56 games since Porto last suffered defeat on October 30, 2020 in a 3-2 loss at Paços de Ferreira; Porto have since beaten Paços on three straight occasions and signed two of the Beavers’ goalscorers from that defeat: Stephen Eustáquio and Bruno Costa.

Porto have won their past six matches against Vitória de Guimarães and will be looking to take that to seven against a team that will be without midfielder Tiago Silva due to suspension. Vitória have picked up three victories in their last four matches under Pepa with each win coming with a one-goal margin, with their sole defeat coming at home against Sporting on March 19. They have lost each of their five league matches against the Big Three, conceding 12 goals in the process, a streak that will likely continue against a Porto side that will be looking to pick up its sixth consecutive win in domestic competition.

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Vizela v Braga

Whilst Benfica’s European dream looks all but certain to end in Anfield on Wednesday, Braga picked up their third straight win in all competitions after defeating Rangers 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League quarter finals tie thanks to a first-half goal from Abel Ruíz. After picking up a pass from goalkeeper Matheus at the edge of his own box, Libyan midfielder Al Musrati played a ground pass through the center to striker Abel Ruiz before receiving it back and curling a pass towards an unmarked Ricardo Horta on the left flank with his first touch. Horta delivered a cross towards the back-post where after a series of quick passes and frantic touches Ruíz was able to curl a shot past Allan McGregor in goal.

The prior match, Braga took a 2-0 lead within the hour mark after goals from Iuri Medeiros and André Horta before conceding two goals in three minutes via Darwin Núñez and João Mário. Shortly after conceding the equalizer in the 77th minute, a Braga corner kick failed to find a man and it seemed as though Al Musrati would be content to let it roll out for a throw-in, but he instead controlled the ball, dribbled backwards before firing a cross with his left foot into Vitinha at the near post who volleyed it past Odysseas Vlachodimos.

With six games left, Braga sit six points clear of Gil Vicente in the race for fourth place and qualification to the UEFA Europa League group stage. Whilst getting a result in Vizela is no easy feat, it is clear that the main task on the players’ minds will be Thursday’s second leg at Ibrox. Braga will be without Al Musrati due to suspension, whilst Vizela are also missing two midfielders in Alex Mendez and Claudemir. Carlos Carvalhal’s side came out victorious 4-1 when they hosted Vizela in November; just two weeks later, Vizela eliminated 10-man Braga from the Taça de Portugal.

Braga have not won four straight matches since January 2021, whilst Vizela have not kept a clean sheet since January 2. I’m expecting a closer, lower-scoring fixture than their meeting in November between two sides who will likely be content to leave with a point.

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