Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Santa Clara
Match Time & Date:
16/08/2024
12:00 PM
Prediction: 1-2
Porto
Porto will be looking to build on a 3-0 win over Gil Vicente when they take on Santa Clara in their first away game of the season. The Dragons are determined to regain the Primeira Liga title, but that is easier said than done. Mehdi Taremi is no longer part of the team, while both Ivan Marcano and Zaidu remain on the sidelines with injuries. Midfielder Pepe is pushing for a recall to the starting XI.
Santa Clara, on the other hand, outclassed Estoril 4-1 in the season opener, with the team building on a very successful preseason. As the hosts look sharp in front of goal, we believe that there is a big value in betting on over 2.5 goals. In their last meeting at the venue Porto defeated Santa Clara 2-1 and we predict that history is going to repeat itself. Leandro Pires should have a full squad to choose from this time out.
Highlighted Player (Pepe):
Pepe is a professional footballer who plays for Porto as a defender. The Portuguese international played for Maritimo at the start of his senior career and in 2004 he moved to Porto. After making 64 league appearances for the Dragons, he signed a contract with Real Madrid in 2007 and he quickly established himself as a first-team regular.
Pepe is well known for his hard tackles and referees often show him red card. The Real Madrid centre back often played as a defensive midfielder under Jose Mourinho and it has to be noted that he scored five goals in all competitions in the 2013/2014 La Liga campaign.
The Portuguese footballer won his second Champions League trophy with Real Madrid in the 2015/2016 season and later in 2016 he helped A Selecao win the European Championship trophy. Portugal defeated France in the title game and Pepe played an important role in Fernando Santos’ team in the Euro 2016 final. The Real Madrid defender was born in Maceio, Brazil on 26 February, 1983.
Highlighted Team (Santa Clara):
Santa Clara are a professional football club that compete in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. Os Acoreanos (The Azoreans) play their home games at Estadio de Sao Miguel, the venue which can hold up to 13,277 people.
Estadio de Sao Miguel was built in 1930. Santa Clara are the only team from the Azores Islands to compete in the Primeira Liga. Os Acoreanos are well known for its close connection with famoust Portuguese club Benfica, with the two teams sharing the very same crest until recently.
Santa Clara wear red shirts and white shorts when playing at home ground, whilst white is the dominant colour of their away kit. Os Acoreanos participated in the Intertoto Cup in the 2002/2003 season, with the team beating FC Shirak in round 1 5-3 on aggregate, while suffering a loss to Teplice 2-9 on agg. in round 2. CD Operario from Lagao are considered Santa Clara’s fiercest rivals.
