Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Benfica will be looking to stay in the Primeira Liga title race when they take on Moreirense at Estadio da Luz on Matchday 18. The Eagles are on a four-game winning run at home in all competitions, and the bookies see them as favourites to win Saturday’s clash. Defender Andre Almeida is back from suspension, while all Meite, Vlachodimos, Radonjic, Pizzi, and Yaremchuk have been tested positive for coronavirus.
Moreirense, on the other hand, quickly bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Tondela, with the team beating Vizela thanks to Rafael Martins’ goal. Ricardo Sa Pinto’s troops are not regarded as good travelers, and seeing that they have already suffered five defeats on the road this season, we are tempted to put our money on Benfica. Moreirense midfielder Sori Mane is on Africa Cup of Nations, but he should be the only absentee in the away team.
Highlighted Player (Jan Vertonghen):
After spending four years at Ajax, in 2006 Jan Vertonghen signed a loan deal with RKC Waalwijk. The left-footed defender spent one season at Mandemakers Stadion and he returned to Ajax for the 2007/2008 season. The highly rated footballer, who is capable of playing as both centre back and left back, signed a deal with Tottenham Hotspur on 8 July, 2012 and he has been playing for the Premier League outfit ever since.
The Belgian defender scored four goals for the Spurs in the 2012/2013 Premier League season and he made 34 league appearances for the White Hart Lane outfit back then. In the 2015/2016 season Jan Vertonghen and his teammates were producing brilliant displays with Tottenham, but the Spurs eventually finished the campaign in third place in the standings.
Speaking of his international career, Vertonghen made it to both World Cup (2014) and Euro (2016) quarter-finals with the Belgian national team. Jan was born on 24 April, 1987 and his shirt number is 5.
Highlighted Team (Moreirense):
Moreirense are a Portuguese football club based in Moreira de Conegos. Founded on November 1, 1938, Os verdes e brancos welcome their rivals at Parque Moreira de Conegos Guimaraes, the venue which can hold up to 9,000 spectators.
Moreirense wear green and white shirts and white shorts when playing at home, whilst black and red are the dominant colours of their away kit. In the 2016/2017 season Os verdes e brancos did well to win the Taca da Liga trophy, with the team beating Braga 1-0 in the title game.
Caue scored the winner for Moreirense on the stroke of half time. Moreirense impressed in the 2018/2019 Primeira Liga season, finishing the process in sixth position in the standings. The club missed out on a place in the Europa League on goal difference to Vitoria de Guimaraes. Penafiel are considered one of the club’s main rivals.