Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Newcomers AVS will look to impress on their Primeira Liga debut when they take on Nacional at their Estadio do CD das Aves on Saturday afternoon. AVS did well to beat Ferrol in their last warm-up game and they are seen as favourites to defeat Nacional in front of home fans as well. A man to keep an eye on in the home team will be Lucas Piazon, who played for the likes of Braga, Fulham, and Malaga in the past.
The Black and Whites, on the other hand, are undefeated in the previous four friendly games. Nacional return to the Portuguese top flight following a three-year absence and seeing that they will go for a win in Saturday’s clash as well, we are tempted to bet on both teams to score. The opposition back-line should have summer signing Arvin Appiah at bay.
Highlighted Team (Nacional):
Nacional is a Portuguese football club based in Funchal, on the island of Madeira. Nacional compete in Primeira Liga, with the team hosting their rivals at Estadio de Madeira. The stadium was opened in the winter of 1998, and it can hold no more than 5,132 spectators.
Nacional is one of the oldest clubs in Portugal as it was founded back in 1910. Los Alvinegros are well known for their white shirts with black stripes, with the team wearing yellow jerseys when playing on the road. Nacional have great rivalry with neighbouring club Maritimo, with the two clubs facing each other in the Madeira derby. Los Alvinegros have won AF Madeira Cup on six occasions (1943/44, 1944/45, 1973,74, 1974/75, 2001/02, 2007/08).
The 2003/04 campaign is considered the most successful season in the history of Nacional as they finished the process in the 4th position in the standings. As a result, they booked their place in the UEFA Cup. In the 2009/10 season Nacional participated in the Europa League group stages, facing the like of Athletic Club, Austria Wien, and Werder Bremen in Group L.