Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Maritimo will be aiming to make amends for a 2-1 loss to Portimonense when they take on Santa Clara in the Primeira Liga round 22. O Maior das Ilhas do not seem to be at the top of their game, with the team losing each of their last four league matches, but Saturday’s clash could be the turning point for the home side. Edgar Costa is back from suspension, as well as head coach Jose Manuel Gomez, who was sent off in a 2-1 loss to Braga.
Santa Clara, on the other hand, are desperate to avoid automatic relegation to the Portuguese second tier. Since Maritimo will not have a better chance to return to winning ways, we are tempted to put our money on the home side. Defender Ygor Nogueira is banned for the match, while goalkeeper Marco Pereira has yet to recover from a hamstring problem.
Highlighted Team (Santa Clara):
Santa Clara are a professional football club that compete in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. Os Acoreanos (The Azoreans) play their home games at Estadio de Sao Miguel, the venue which can hold up to 13,277 people.
Estadio de Sao Miguel was built in 1930. Santa Clara are the only team from the Azores Islands to compete in the Primeira Liga. Os Acoreanos are well known for its close connection with famoust Portuguese club Benfica, with the two teams sharing the very same crest until recently.
Santa Clara wear red shirts and white shorts when playing at home ground, whilst white is the dominant colour of their away kit. Os Acoreanos participated in the Intertoto Cup in the 2002/2003 season, with the team beating FC Shirak in round 1 5-3 on aggregate, while suffering a loss to Teplice 2-9 on agg. in round 2. CD Operario from Lagao are considered Santa Clara’s fiercest rivals.