Chaves vs Varzim Predictions

Either Chaves or Varzim could still qualify from Group C in the Taca da Liga this weekend, but they are relying on Porto dropping points in their final game against Belenenses. Primeira Liga side Chaves have the home advantage against their second tier opponents Varzim on Sunday, but the visitors have a good record against their hosts and will be looking to take advantage of Chaves’ current poor form.

Chaves suffered another defeat last weekend in the Primeira Liga, leaving them stranded at the bottom of the table, four points adrift of safety. Nacional took the lead against Chaves in the thirty-fifth minute through Rochez, after good work from Witi. Chaves created a decent amount of chances during the match, but on a day when their finishing was poor their hosts took advantage and Rochez scored his second goal of the game from the penalty spot in the seventy-sixth minute to wrap up a 2-0 win. Chaves have just seven points from their fourteen league games this season and look odds on to return to the second tier of Portuguese football if their form doesn’t improve soon.

Varzim also picked up three points in the league last time out, beating Braga’s reserve 1-0 at the Estádio 1º de Maio. Silvério scored the only goal of the game in the sixty-ninth minute to hand the visitors all three points, but the hosts were actually the better team during the ninety minutes and will have been very disappointed to have lost the game. Braga had twice as many corners and almost three times as many shots on target, but even with 52% of the possession, were unable to break down a resolute Varzim defence.

The last time these two clubs met was for a friendly back in 2016 which hosts Varzim won on penalties after the two clubs played out a 2-2 draw. Chaves won the last competitive meeting between the pair, also in 2016, when they were each plying their trade in the second tier of Portuguese football. João Patrão scored the only goal of the game early in the second half to earn Chaves a narrow victory against Varzim, and on the balance of play, the hosts deserved the three points.

Visitors Varzim head into Sunday’s cup tie as the form favourites with two wins, two draws, and two defeats from their last six matches. Chaves have lost five of their last six matches and only won once, but with a place in the next round of the Taca da Liga at stake, the hosts will be desperate to make a return to winning ways and hope that,that inspires them to start picking up points in the Primeira Liga. Eustáquio and Niltinho are the only players to have scored in the Taca da Liga for Chaves this season, but the pair only have one goal each to their names. Awurum and Toro have two goals apiece in this competition and will fancy their chances of adding to that tally against their hosts leaky defence.

We’re confident that Varzim will take something from the match and have backed the visitors with a double chance bet, and have predicted the scoreline will end 1-0 to the visitors. Varzim have only lost one of their last six matches against Chaves. The hosts have lost their last five matches in all competitions, while Varzim have only lost two of their last six matches. Chaves are in poor form and don’t have a good record against Varzim and we’re expecting that to show on Sunday.