Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Arouca
Match Time & Date:
18/09/2022
16:30
Prediction: 0-0
Guimaraes
Arouca will be looking to put an end to their three-game winless run in the Portuguese top flight when they face Vitoria Guimaraes on Sunday. Os Arouquenses have been struggling in front of goal of late, with the team scoring no more than four goals this season. The home team will try to make amends for a loss to Boavista; therefore, they are likely to go all guns blazing at Vitoria. Sema Velazquez has yet to recover from a long-term knee injury, while both Ismaila Soro and Jerome Opoku are banned for the match.
Os Conquistadores, on the other hand, will try to build on a narrow 1-0 win against Santa Clara, but keep in mind that they struggle on travels. Anyhow, the visiting side are likely to rely on their rock-solid defence in Sunday’s game, since they conceded only four goals in the new campaign. Since both teams will look to grab something from the Estadio Municipal de Arouca showdown, a close encounter is on the horizon. All Jorge Fernandes, Bruno Gaspar, Tomas Handel, Miguel Maga, Andre Silva and Mikel Villanueva are out of contention with injury for the visitors.
Highlighted Player (Rafa Soares):
Born in Marco de Canaveses, Portugal, Rafa Soares is a professional footballer who plays for Vitoria Guimaraes as a left-back. Rafa is a product of the Porto football academy, but he did not see any game action in Primeira Liga with the Dragons.
After scoring eight goals in 61 appearances with Porto B, the Portuguese defender spent a couple of seasons on loan at Academica, Rio Ave, and Fulham. In 2018 he played for Portimonense, but nowadays, he wears the number 5 shirt at Vitoria Guimaraes. Rafa Soares has nine caps with the Portugal U21 team, but he has yet to earn a call-up for the Portugal senior team.
His primary position is left-back, but he is used as both left midfielder and left winger as well. Rafa’s preferred foot is left, and he has a contract with Vitoria Guimaraes until June 2021. Rafa Soares made his Primeira Liga debut against Academica back in January 2016, during his spell with Vitoria Setubal.
Highlighted Team (Guimaraes):
Vitoria Guimaraes have always been in the shadow of famous Portuguese sides Porto, Benfica and Sporting, but over the years they have established themselves as a top-table side in the Primeira Liga. Os Vimaranenses did well to win Taca de Portugal in the 2012/2013 season, wi the team beating Benfica in the final of the domestic cup.
Vitoria Guimaraes finished the 2016/2017 Primeira Liga campaign in fourth place in the standings and, as a result, they booked their place in the Europa League qualifiers. The Portuguese side will face the likes of Salzburg, Konyaspor and Olympic Marseille in Group I and they are seen as underdogs in their group. Vitoria Guimaraes welcome their rivals at Estadio D. Alfonso Henriques and the venue can hold up to 30.000 spectators.
Os Vimaranenses play their home games in white shirts and white shorts, whilst they wear black when playing on the road. Their neighbours Braga are considered Guimaraes’ fiercest rivals and the two teams face each other in the derby of Minho Province.
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