Arouca vs Belenenses Match Analysis and Prediction

4 years ago 488

Belenenses make a trip to the Estadio Municipal de Aruoca to take on Arouca as they draw the curtain on their 2021-22 Primeira Liga campaign on Saturday.

The hosts head into the game requiring just a point to confirm their safety, while only a win will see Belenenses keep their narrow survival hopes alive as they could move into the relegation playoff spot.

Off the back of a 1-0 home victory over Portimonense, Arouca suffered a setback in the Primeira Liga when they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sporting Braga last Sunday.

Prior to that, the Arouquenses put an end to their three-game winless run when they claimed a 1-0 victory over the Portimao-based club on April 30 through a 50th-minute goal from David Simao.

With 30 points from 33 games, Arouca are currently 1th in the Primeira Liga standings, three points above 16th-placed Tondela in the relegation playoff spot.

While Armando Evangelista’s side will be looking to end the season on a high, next up is an opposing side who they have failed to defeat in seven of the last eight meetings between the sides, losing four and drawing three in the process.

Meanwhile, Belenenses failed to put an end to their decline in form last time out when they suffered a 3-2 home defeat against Famalicao at the Estadio Nacional do Jamor.

O Belem have now failed to win in any of their last three matches, picking up one draw and losing two since a 1-0 victory over 14th-placed Vizela on April 16.

Franclim Carvalho’s side have now lost 18, drawn 10 and won just five of their 33 matches this season to collect 25 points and sit at the bottom of the Primeira Liga table, two points below Tondela in the relegation playoff spot.

Arouca vs Belenenses head to head

The two sides have previously met on 17 occasions across all competitions, where Arouca have claimed four victories while Belenenses have won eight, and they have drawn in five. Arouca have scored 16 goals and conceded 23. In their last five meetings, Arouca have won once, Belenenses twice with two draws.

Arouca 2-2 Belenenses 27/09/15

Belenenses 0-2 Arouca 21/02/16

Belenenses 1-1 Arouca 26/09/16

Arouca 1-2 Belenenses 27/02/17

Belenenses 2-1 Arouca 09/01/22

Arouca latest home form

Arouca have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They managed to defeat Portimonense 1-0 in their last home form in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded four.

Arouca 1-1 Moreirense 26/02/22

Arouca 0-1 Pacos Ferreira 12/03/22

Arouca 2-1 Gil Vicente 02/04/22

Arouca 1-1 Santa Clara 15/04/22

Arouca 1-0 Portimonense 30/04/22

Arouca latest away form

Arouca have recently been on a poor run of form on the road, having lost each of their three most recent matches. They lost 1-0 to Sporting Braga in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored just three goals and conceded eight.

Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Arouca 05/03/22

Tondela 2-2 Arouca 19/03/22

Boavista 1-0 Arouca 09/04/22

Vizela 2-1 Arouca 22/04/22

Sporting Braga 1-0 Arouca 08/05/22

Belenenses latest home form

Belenenses have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having lost each of their two most recent matches. Their last home victory came on April 16 when they defeated Vizela 1-0 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded four.

Belenenses 0-0 Boavista 12/03/22

Belenenses 2-0 Portimonense 02/04/22

Belenenses 1-0 Vizela 16/04/22

Belenenses 0-1 Sporting Braga 30/04/22

Belenenses 2-3 Famalicao 09/05/22

Belenenses latest away form

Belenenses have recently been on a relatively poor run of form on the road, having failed to win in any of their five most recent matches. They drew 2-2 with Estoril in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded eight.

Gil Vicente 2-0 Belenenses 19/02/22

Tondela 1-1 Belenenses 07/03/22

Santa Clara 0-0 Belenenses 19/03/22

Benfica 3-1 Belenenses 09/04/22

Estoril 2-2 Belenenses 24/04/22

Arouca news

Goalkeeper Fernando Augusto, midfielder Moses Yaw and defender Jose Manuel Velazquez are all ruled out through injuries, while Wellington Nem misses out through a muscle injury.

They are joined on the injury table by the midfield duo of Eboue Kouassi and Pedro Moreira, who are recovering from ACL and knee injuries respectively.

Belenenses news

Head coach Franclim Carvalho will be unable to call upon the services of forward Alioune Ndour, who picked up an injury in February’s game against Pacos de Ferreira.

He is joined on the injury table by midfielder Tomas Castro, who sustained a knee injury back in January’s game against Maritimo.

Prediction and Odds

While a draw confirms Arouca’s safety, Belenenses require all three points to move into the relegation playoff spot and keep their narrow survival hopes alive.

O Belem have won each of the two most recent matches between the sides, and will be looking to post yet another victory on Saturday.

Odds: 1 2.45 X 2.05 2 2.20