Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Guimaraes
Match Time & Date:
29/12/2021
20:00
Prediction: 2-0
Boavista
After suffering a 1-0 loss to Santa Clara, Vitoria Guimaraes will look to return to winning ways when they host Boavista to their Estadio D. Afonso Henriques on Matchday 16. Guimaraes are on a three-game winning run at home ground, which is surely giving fans a reason for optimism ahead of the visit of Boavista. Croatia defender Toni Borevkovic returns to the starting XI after serving his one-game ban in the defeat to Santa Clara.
The Black and Whites, on the other hand, aim to build on a hard-fought 1-0 win over Moreirense. Boavista, though, have been struggling on the travels in the first half of the season, which is probably the main reason why we are tempted to put our money on the hosts. Both Petar Musa and Nathan are banned for the visiting team.
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 (Boavista):
Founded on August 1, 1903, Boavista are a Portuguese club that welcome their rivals at Estadio do Bessa. The capacity of the venue is 28,263 and it was built back in 1911. As Panteras (The Panthers) are well known for their black and white shirts and white is the dominant colour of their away kit.
Famous Fellow city club Porto are considered Boavista’s main rivals and the two teams face each other in O Derby da Invicta and there have always been fireworks in clashes between the two local rivals. A Panteras did well to win their first and only Primeira Liga trophy in the 2000/2001 season, with the team finishing the campaign only one point clear of Porto.
Boavista have five Taca de Portugal trophies (1974/75, 1975/76, 1978/79, 1991/92, 1996/97), with the team winning Supertaca de Portugal three times (1979, 1992, 1997). Jose Bosingwa, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Nuno Gomes are the notable footballers who played for Boavista in the past, to name just a few.
