Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Santa Clara will be looking to build on a 2-0 win over Portimonense when they take on Tondela in the Primeira Liga round 24. Santa Clara are eyeing their third consecutive win at home ground, and bookie see them as favourites to pick up all three points from Saturday’s match. The good news for the hosts is that experienced midfielder Anderson de Carvalho returns from suspension.
Tondela, on the other hand, suffered a 1-0 loss to league leaders Sporting CP at the weekend, with the team dropping to 11th place in the standings. The Yellow-Greens are only three points clear of the relegation zone, but given Santa Clara’s form in March, we predict that the visitors are going to return home empty-handed. Talented defender Jota Goncalves has been struggling with injury, but he should be the only absentee in the away team.
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 (Tondela):
Founded on June 6, 1933 Tondela are a professional football club from Portugal that compete in Primeira Liga. Club Desportivo de Tondela were founded through a merger of two clubs: Tondela Football Club abd Operario Atletico Clube.
The Auriverdes green and yellow shirts and yellow shorts when playing at their Estadio Joao Cardoso (5,000), whilst blue is the dominant colour of their away kit. Tondela are based in Tondela, the town located in Viseu District. Former Portugal international Ricardo Costa is one of the most notable footballers who played for Tondela in the past. The 183-cm-tall defenders scored 3 goals in 59 appearances for the club in the Primeira Liga.
There is one organized group of fans supporting Tondela named Febre Amarela. This supporters group was founded in 2009. Tondela secured promotion to Primeira Liga at the end of the 2014/2015 season and they have been competing in the Portuguese top flight ever since.