Liga Portugal Predictions: Porto vs AVS, Rio Ave vs Benfica : 14/03-16/03
Liga Portugal 2024/25 Predictions: Gameweek 26
Sporting and Benfica remained in the race for the Liga Portugal title as they both won their respective games in round 25. However, FC Porto took a step backward after losing their game and now trail Benfica, the second, by six and Sporting, the leaders, by nine points.
Sporting Braga joined FC Porto on 50 points but are fourth on goal difference. Braga are ten points clear of fifth-placed Santa Clara. At the bottom of the table, the situation remains the same, as all teams from 13th and downwards failed to win their games.
This week’s Liga Portugal gameweek 2 predictions were made based on current form, expert knowledge, and data.
Liga Portugal gameweek 26 predictions
Santa Clara to avoid defeat in this tricky away fixture: Gil Vicente vs Santa Clara
- Date: 15/03/2025
- Kick Off: 15:30 UTC
- Gil Vicente, who are 14th with 23 points, will host Santa Clara, currently fifth with 40 points. Santa Clara have won the last two H2H meetings but are winless in the last four away H2Hs.
Gil Vicente remained in a critical situation after failing to win for the sixth consecutive round. The hosts ended a five-match losing streak by drawing 1-1 away with Estrela in round 25. However, playing at home, Gil Vicente are a very stubborn team, as they have not lost to any of the top seven teams in four games. Santa Clara’s away record is not very impressive this season, winning five and losing five of their 12 fixtures. They are winless in their last two away games. In the previous round, Santa Clara drew 1-1 with Moreirense at home after conceding in the 87th minute.
Gil Vicente vs Santa Clara Prediction: Santa Clara to Win or Draw
Sporting Braga may prove too strong for Farense: Farense vs Sporting Braga
- Date: 15/03/2025
- Kick Off: 15:30 UTC
- Farense, who are 17th with 17 points, will take on fourth-placed Sporting Braga with 50 points. Sporting Braga have won the last two H2H meetings.
With the 2-2 away draw against Estoril in round 25, Farense extended their winless run to ten games, during which they lost five and drew five games. The hosts are six points below safety and have lost nine of their 12 home games in Liga Portugal. They lost all of their six games against the top four teams. Sporting Braga, on the other hand, have not faced any problems when facing the bottom three teams, winning all of their four games to nil. In the previous round, Braga beat FC Porto 1-0 in a tough match, which was their fourth consecutive home win in the league.
Farense vs Sporting Braga Prediction: Sporting Braga to Win
FC Porto to bounce back and stay in title race: FC Porto vs AVS
- Date: 15/03/2025
- Kick Off: 18:00 UTC
- Third-placed FC Porto with 50 points will square off against AVS, who are 16th with 23 points. FC Porto won the only meeting with AVS 5-0 earlier this season.
FC Porto continued their unstable and unconvincing performances and lost to Sporting Braga 1-0 on the road in round 25. It was the hosts’ fifth defeat of the season, all of them on the road. At the Estadio do Dragao, FC Porto have not lost a single game in the Liga Portugal, winning nine and drawing three. AVS are battling hard for survival, but they still can’t win twice in a row in the league. The visitors lost to Arouca 1-0 at home in round 25 after beating Farense in round 24. When facing the top five teams, AVS managed two draws but lost the other five games.
FC Porto vs AVS Prediction: FC Porto to Win and Over 1.5 Goals
Sporting to stay ahead in the title race: Sporting vs Famalicão
- Date: 15/03/2025
- Kick Off: 20:30 UTC
- Top of the table Sporting, with 59 points, will take on Famalicao, who are ninth with 34 points. Sporting have won the last seven H2H meetings.
A 12-game undefeated run is what kept Sporting leading the Liga Portugal standings. The hosts beat Casa Pia 3-1 on the road in round 25, which was their second victory in a row. At Estadio Jose Alvalade, Sporting managed to win ten of their 12 games in the league and six of their seven fixtures against the bottom nine teams. With the 1-0 home win over Rio Ave on Monday, Famalicão returned to winning ways. That was the visitors’ fourth win in the past eight rounds, during which they picked up 1.75 points per game. Famalicão are winless against the top eight teams when playing on the road.
Sporting vs Famalicão Prediction: Sporting to Win and Over 1.5 Goals
At least two goals were produced in recent H2H meetings: Arouca vs Estoril
- Date: 16/03/2025
- Kick Off: 15:30 UTC
- Arouca, who are 12th with 28 points, will lock horns with eighth-placed Estoril with 35 points. The last five H2H meetings ended with two or more goals.
Arouca returned to winning ways after beating AVS by a single goal in the previous round. That was the tenth game in the last 11 rounds that Arouca managed to be on the scoresheet. Since the start of the season, 68% of Arouca’s games produced over two goals, and their games are averaged at 2.48 goals per game. Most of Estoril’s recent games saw three or more goals, the last six to be exact. In round 25, Estoril drew 2-2 at home with Farense. The visitors have a total goal average of 2.92 goals per game, and 72% of their games produced two or more goals.
Arouca vs Estoril Prediction: Over 2 Goals
A low-scoring encounter is expected when these two teams meet: Nacional vs Casa Pia
- Date: 16/03/2025
- Kick Off: 15:30 UTC
- Nacional, who are 13th with 26 points, will take on seventh-placed Casa Pia with 36 points. Four of the last five H2H meetings ended with three or fewer goals.
Nacional suffered their fourth defeat in the last seven games after going down 3-0 to Benfica on the road last weekend. The hosts failed to score in 25% of their home games, which saw an average of 2.75 goals per game. Nacional’s 60% of games in the league this season ended with under 2.5 goals, as did Casa Pia’s matches. With the 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Sporting in the previous round, Casa Pia suffered their second consecutive defeat. Playing on the road, the visitors failed to score in 24% of their games, which usually produce 2.75 goals per game.
Nacional vs Casa Pia Prediction: Under 2.5 Goals
Benfica to keep the pressure on the top: Rio Ave vs Benfica
- Date: 16/03/2025
- Kick Off: 18:00 UTC
- Rio Ave, who are tenth with 29 points, will face off against second-placed Benfica with 56 points. Benfica have won four of the last five H2H meetings.
Rio Ave have been very solid playing in front of their fans, losing just one of their 12 home games and winning five and drawing six. On Monday, they lost away to Famalicão by a single goal in a game that they failed to convert their goal shots on target to goals. Benfica maintained their top form and extended their winning streak to five games after beating Nacional 3-0 last weekend. The Eagles have not conceded a goal in Liga Portugal in three games. Benfica have won their seven away games against the bottom nine teams in the league and have won their last two trips.
Rio Ave vs Benfica Prediction: Benfica to Win
Moreirense must be able to overcome Boavista: Moreirense vs Boavista
- Date: 16/03/2025
- Kick Off: 20:30 UTC
- Moreirense, who are 11th with 28 points, will host last-placed Boavista, who have 15 points. Moreirense won the last game with Boavista 2-0 on the road.
Moreirense remained undefeated for the second successive round, but they are winless as well after a second draw away with Santa Clara in round 25. Playing at home, Moreirense have won five games and are unbeaten in front of their fans when facing teams ranked lower than them. Boavista’s winning form lasted just one week as they were defeated at home by Vitoria Guimaraes 2-1 in the previous round. That was Boavista’s ninth defeat in ten games in Liga Portugal. They are nine points below safety, and although there are still nine games to play, their form is not encouraging.
Moreirense vs Boavista Prediction: Moreirense to Win
Vitoria are favourites as they push for better positions: Vitoria Guimaraes vs Estrela
- Date: 16/03/2025
- Kick Off: 20:30 UTC
- Sixth-placed Vitoria Guimaraes, with 38 points, will lock horns with Estrela, who are 15th with 23 points. Vitoria Guimarães won two of the last three H2H meetings.
Going undefeated in six games proves that Vitoria Guimaraes are in good form, as they won three and drew three of those matches. In the last round, Vitoria beat Boavista on the road, recording their second triumph in a row. Playing at home, Vitoria are undefeated when facing lower-ranked teams, winning six of nine fixtures. Estrela also come into this game having not tasted defeat in four games; the last three were all draws, with the latest being a 1-1 draw with Gil Vicente at home. Estrela have just one win on the road and lost seven of their 12 fixtures.
