Before the Round – Trends on Portugal Primeira Liga (07-08/01)

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FC Porto are five points off first-place Benfica in the race for the Primeira title. The Dragons will visit surprise package Casa Pia in a top-five clash this weekend. Meanwhile, Pacos de Ferreira are searching for a first win in the Primeira this season, as they face off with ninth-place Chaves.

Vitoria SC - Rio Ave

Vitoria will welcome Rio Ave on Saturday as they seek a second victory in seven attempts against the visitors. Rio Ave posted a record of 3W-2D-1L against Vitoria in their last six head-to-head meetings.

Rio Ave are seventh in the table and four points behind sixth-place Vitoria in the race for European qualification. Ave are unbeaten in three straight games in the Primeira. They took 10 points from the last six games.

Vitoria picked up 12 points from the last six games in the Primeira. Eight points currently separate Vitoria from the top three. Vitoria’s defence has been an issue, as they conceded 10 goals across the last six games.

• A series of 3 consecutive home Primeira wins mark Vitória Guimarães's latest record.
• Rio Ave have won only 1 of their last 7 away Primeira matches.
• There are no losses for Vitória Guimarães in 9 of their most recent 10 home games (Primeira).
• Rio Ave's most recent games have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals in their last 5 matches in Primeira.
• Prediction: Both Teams to Score - No @1.80

Casa Pia AC - FC Porto

Casa Pia are a surprise package in the league after earning promotion last season. The team is fifth in the table and five points off the top three. FC Porto will attempt to pick up three massive points, as they try to chase down first-place Benfica.

Porto took 13 points from the last six games in the Primeira. They outscored their last six opponents 16-4. Porto’s last three games ended as wins.

Casa Pia took nine points from the last six matches. They were outscored 7-6 by their six opponents. Two of Casa Pia’s last three games at home ended as defeats.

• Casa Pia have lost just 2 of their last 6 fixtures in all competitions.
• FC Porto have won at HT/FT their last 3 league games.
• There have been under 2.5 goals in 5 of Casa Pia' s last 6 matches in all competitions.
• FC Porto haven't lost in 45 of their last 48 matches in Primeira.
• Prediction: FC Porto @1.40

Pacos de Ferreira - GD Chaves

Last-place Pacos de Ferreira will host ninth-place GD Chaves on Sunday. These teams have not played in the league since 2018.

Pacos are on a six-game losing streak in the league. They scored a mere one goal across the last six games, conceding 13 times.

GD Chaves picked up 10 points from the last six games in the Primeira. They were outscored 9-6 in those six games. Chaves won two of their last three games in the league away from home.

• There have been 6 staight losses in Primeira for Pacos de Ferreira.
• GD Chaves conceded an average of 1.57 goals in their away matches in Primeira.
• Pacos de Ferreira's form hasn't been good, as the team has won only 1 of their last 20 matches (Primeira).
• GD Chaves have won just 2 of their last 6 encounters in all competitions.
• Prediction: GD Chaves @2.50

CS Maritimo - Sporting CP

Sporting CP are unbeaten in five of their last six games against Maritimo in all competitions. Four of those five games ended as wins for the Lisbon Lions.

Sporting won six of their last seven league games. The Lions are fourth in the division and are three points behind third-place Braga. Sporting CP are on a three-game winning streak ahead of the match on Sunday.

Maritimo are mired in the relegation zone ahead of the match with Sporting. Just one of the team’s last six games ended as a win. Maritimo conceded the league’s second-most goals (28) in their opening 14 games.

• In their last 23 games in Primeira, Marítimo have recorded only 2 wins.
• Sporting CP have no losses against Marítimo in their 8 most recent matches in Primeira.
• In their 6 most recent matches of Primeira, Marítimo have been undefeated 5 times.
• In a series of 3 Primeira games, Sporting CP have succeeded in winning at HT/FT.
• Prediction: Sporting CP @1.40