Famalicao and Belenenses will go head to head on Wednesday at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao in a bottom-of-the-table clash in round 16 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga with a kickoff at 8 pm.
Both teams, separated by just three points in the league table, have not won a game in their previous four matches and will be hoping to end this dry spell.
After losing on penalties to a rejuvenated Portimonense side last Tuesday, Famalicao saw their Taca de Portugal campaign end.
Following on from a cagey affair at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao, in which Aylton Boa Morte scored a goal on the stroke of half-time to hand his side a first-half lead, Bruno Rodrigues struck in the 82nd minute to force penalties, where Rui Pedro Silva’s new side fell to a 4-2 defeat.
Portugal’s Famalicão now plans to turn its attention to the country’s Primeira Liga, where it has not won a game in any of its last four contests. Three games ended in defeat, and one ended in a draw. This came after a thrilling 5-2 victory over Boavista on November 5.
Belenenses, like their hosts, lost in the Taca de Portugal last time out when they fell to relegation-threatened Segunda Liga side SCU Ruo Ave at the Estadio dos Arcos.
Famalicao vs Belenenses Head to Head
Both sides have four games against each other with hosts taking two wins and two draws. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Famalicao 1-1 Portimonense
- Estoril Praia 2-2 Famalicao
- Famalicao 1-4 Benfica
- Gil Vicente 4-0 Famalicao
- Famalicao 0-3 Portimonense
Away
- Vizela 2-0 Belenenses
- Rio Ave 1-1 Belenenses
- Sporting Braga 1-0 Belenenses
- Belenenses 0-1 Estoril Praia
- Belenenses 0-7 Benfica
Famalicao Team News
Diogo Figueiras will be out of the game against Gil Vicente on December 5. This means he will miss his fourth straight game with an injury.
Heriberto Tavares will also be absent for hosts Arouca after the 24-year-old sustained a leg injury in the game against Benfica three weeks ago and was forced to come off 10 minutes into the match.
Belenenses Team News
For Belenenses, on the other hand, the absence of 23-year-old midfielder Chico Teixeira will be a blow. The player has been sidelined since picking up an injury in September.
But he’ll be helped by the return of Brazilian forward Alisson Safira, who played in last week’s cup-tie against Rio Ave after recovering from a muscle problem.
Prediction and Odds
While Famalicao has been in good form against Belenenses over the years, they head into the game with similar forms, and a share of the points apiece is likely.
- Draw
- Both Teams to Score
- Goals Under 3.5
