Our prediction for this Taca de Portugal match:
Estadio dos Barreiros will host the Taca de Portugal quarter-final between Maritimo and Estoril. Maritimo did well to beat high-flying Sporting in the previous round, and it is no wonder the bookies see them as favourites to win Tuesday’s clash. Jean returns from suspension for the hosts, while Pinho is unlikely to feature against Estoril as he was tested positive for coronavirus. Estoril, on the other hand, booked their place in the Taca de Portugal quarter-finals by beating Rio Ave on the road.
Os Canarinhos are undefeated in the previous seven league fixtures, but seeing that Maritimo impressed in the 2-0 victory over Sporting, we are tempted to put our money on O Maior das Ilhas. A man to watch in the away team will be Ghana international Abdul-Aziz Yakubu, who has netted seven goals in the Segunda Liga so far this season.
Highlighted Player (Amir Abedzadeh):
Amir Abedzadeh is an Iran international who plays for Maritimo as a goalkeeper. The 186-cm-tall shot-stopper was born in Tehran, Iran, on April 26, 1993, and started his senior career at LA Blues. After making 14 appearances for the American club.
Amir Abedzadeh moved to Persepolis in the summer of 2012, and after playing for the likes of Rah Ahan and Barreirense, he joined Maritimo in the winter of 2017. The Iranian goalkeeper made his debut with Maritimo in the Taca de Portugal clash against Torcatense on October 14, 2017.
Speaking of his international career, Amir Abedzadeh made his Iran debut against Uzbekistan on May 19, 2018. It has to be noted that the Iranian shot-stopper managed to keep three clean sheets in 13 appearances for Maritimo in the 2018/2019 Primeira Liga, conceding 16 goals in the process. His preferred foot is right, and he wears the number 1 shirt.
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.