Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Santa Clara
Match Time & Date:
03/07/2020
02:15 PM
Prediction: 0-1
Maritimo
Cidade do Futebol will host Friday’s football game between Santa Clara and Maritimo. Santa Clara aim to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Boavista, but the lack of motivation could prove to be a big problem for the hosts. Os Acoreanos are stuck in the middle of the table, meaning that they have little to play for in the season finale. Maritimo, on the other hand, proved their worth in a splendid 2-0 win over Benfica, with pacey full-back providing two amazing assists for his teammates.
The visitors are brimming with confidence ahead of the trip to Azores, and seeing that the game will be played behind closed doors, away win should be considered. You should bear in mind that Maritimo recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win over Santa Clara in their last meeting at Cidade do Futbol. The good news for the visitors is that midfielder Franck-Yves Bambock returns from suspension.
Highlighted Player (Fabio Cardoso):
Fabio Cardoso is a Portuguese defender who was born in Agueda (Portugal) on April 19, 1994. Cardoso started his youth career at his hometown club Agueda, but in 2008 he continued his development at Benfica. After scoring three goals in 55 appearances for Benfica B, he spent the 2015/2016 season on loan at Pacos Ferreira.
In the summer of 2017, he signed a four-year deal with Vitoria Setubal, but he spent only one season at Estadio do Bonfim. Cardoso joined Scottish club Glasgow Rangers in June 2017, signing a three-year contract with the club for a fee of around £1.3 million.
The Portuguese defender, though, made no more than 12 appearances for the Gers, joining Santa Clara in the summer of 2018. Fabio Cardoso has four caps with the Portugal U20 team, but he has yet to earn a call-up for the senior team. His primary position is a centre-back, but he is often used as a left-back. His preferred foot is right.
Highlighted Team (Maritimo):
Based in Funchal, Madeira, Maritimo are a Portuguese club that compete in Primeira Liga. O Maior das Ilhas (The Greatest of the Islands) play their home matches in the national championship at Estadio do Maritimo.
The stadium was officially founded on May 5, 1957 and it can hold up to 10,932 spectators. Maritimo won their first and only Campeonato de Portugal in the 1925/1926 season, with the team beating Belenenses in the title game 2-0 at Campo do Ameal. Maritimo wear green shirts with red stripes and white shorts when playing on home soil, whilst the colour of their away kit is sky blue.
The Estadio do Maritimo have yet to win the Taca de Portugal trophy, but they made it to the final of the competition on two occasions (1994/95, 2000/01), as well as the final of the Taca da Liga in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. Nacional are considered the club’s main rivals.
Chelsea
Norwich
Newcastle
Tottenham
Man City
Bournemouth
Arsenal
Liverpool
Leicester
Sheffield United
Barcelona
Osasuna
