Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Monday’s football game between Arouca and Guimaraes will bring down the curtain on the Primeira Liga round 1. Arouca aim to recover from a 2-0 loss to Academico Viseu, but they face yet another tough challenge against Guimaraes. There are no fresh injury worries in the home team ahead of the opening match of the season. It has to be noted that the club chiefs managed to keep hold of Cristo Gonzalez, who scored 15 goals in the national championship last term.
The visitors, on the other hand, head into the match following the Conference League encounter with Zurich. As tired legs could prove to be a big problem for Os Vimaranenses, we are tempted to bet on draw. A man to watch in the away team will be Ricardo Mangas, who produced a splendid display in the Conference League qualifier against Floriana.
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.