Portimonense vs Boavista Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Portuguese Primeira Liga
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THE FACTS
When is Portimonense vs Boavista on and what time does it start? Portimonense vs Boavista will take place on Saturday 27th May, 2023 – 20:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Portimonense vs Boavista? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Portimonense vs Boavista on in the UK? Some Portuguese Primeira Liga matches are televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports in the UK so it is worth checking their schedules
Where can I Portimonense vs Boavista in the UK? If televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports, the match can be streamed on their respective streaming platforms
THE LOWDOWN
PORTIMONENSE
Last season, Portimonense ended up sliding dramatically down the table and actually ended up finishing just above the bottom three in the Primeira Liga table. The signs of a collapse were there as they collected 44% of their points last season in their opening seven matches, which is just 20% of the matches that they play in the full Primeira Liga campaign.
The hosts remain under the management of Paulo Sergio and things started badly for them last weekend away to Gil Vicente. With key attacking midfielder Lucas Fernandes sold to current Brazilian Serie A league leaders Botafogo, there was no creative spark and they simply collapsed to a crushing 5-0 defeat on the opening day of the season.
BOAVISTA
In contrast to their opposition’s miserable and, frankly, bordering on pathetic start to this season, Boavista began by toppling the reigning champions. The visitors are one of two sides outside of ‘The Big Three’ to win the Portuguese title, and they were the most recent winning it in 2000, and they may well have early dreams of breaking into the top six and earning European qualification after their impressive start.
That impressive start, though, will be viewed as anomalous and simply bizarre by nay-sayers and Benfica supporters. Boavista went behind to an Angel Di Maria strike mid-way through the first-half but Robert Bozenik did level the scoring in the 55th minute. Another play of sheer class, Rafa Silva, made it 2-1 to Benfica with 15 minutes of the 90 to go when they were down to ten men after an earlier red card for Petar Musa. However, Bruno Lourenco in the 90th minute scored a penalty to level it at 2-2 before being sent off ten minutes later but that didn’t matter for the result as Bozenik completed a brace with a 103rd minute winner.
THE TEAM NEWS
PORTIMONENSE
Despite being thrashed 5-0 last week, Portimonense have quite a small squad and with several new attackers trying to gel up-front especially, such as former Fulham winger Sylvester Jasper, it could well be the case that Paulo Sergio maintains the same starting eleven, especially with no fresh injury concerns.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Silvestre; Guga, Henrique, Relvas, Seck; Mauricio, Estrela; Jasper, Carlinhos, Rildo; Carrillo
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
BOAVISTA
Frustratingly for Petit, who would want to keep the same line-up having begun the season with a victory over the reigning champions, he will be forced into at least one change to the squad due to Bruno Lourenco’s red card in that match meaning he is suspended for this one.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Goncalves; Malheiro, Awaziem, Abascal, Onyemaechi; Perez, Reisinho; Salvador Agra, Makouta, Morais; Bozenik
UNAVAILABLE: Lourenco (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Portimonense, in front of home support, may well simply seek to avoid a defeat this weekend. The trend in Portuguese football, particularly in the top-flight, is to be quite resolute and reactive in their approach with a major emphasis on defensive football. Given that they host a Boavista side that, just simply through variance are unlikely to be involved in a game as topsy-turvy as their victory last weekend, this could be a regression to a lower scoring encounter. Boavista remain favourites and a double chance bet in their favour looks good but under 2.5 goals seems likely, too.
TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
