Maritimo vs Portimonese Predictions

Maritimo suffered a third straight defeat in the Primeira Liga on Wednesday and in doing so now sit in the relegation zone. On Saturday Maritimo are faced with another difficult test at home against a Portimonense side that recorded a memorable victory over Portuguese giants Benfica in their last match. The visitors sit seventh in the table and might be daring to dream of European football next season, but they must follow up their excellent result on Wednesday with another win this weekend.

Sporting Braga became the latest team to beat Maritimo in the Primeira Liga, opening the scoring in the eighth minute through Raúl Silva. An own goal in the thirteenth minute from the unfortunate Aloísio Neto summed up this game and Maritimo’s current run of form. Braga lead 2-0 at the break and while no further goals were added to the final scoreline, Maritimo never looked like even threatening to score and only managed one shot on target during the ninety minutes. A much improved performance is going to be needed if Maritimo are to return to winning ways on Saturday, but confidence looks low amongst the squad.

Two own goals and a red card for Benfica certainly contributed to their surprise defeat at Portimonense on Wednesday, and while the hosts didn’t see a lot of the ball and didn’t create many chances they did, however, defend manfully. Rúben Dias scored the first own goal to hand Portimonense a twelfth minute lead and Brazilian defender Jardel then put the ball through his own goal to double the hosts lead in the thirty-eighth minute. Benfica came out in the second half and controlled the match, but they could not carve out the goal that would have got them back into the match and their frustrations were clear to see in the seventy-second minute when Jonas was shown a red card. The hosts held onto their two goal lead and celebrated in style at the final whistle.

These two teams last met back in February where despite having the home advantage Maritimo ended up being thrashed 3-0 by Portimonense. Fabricio scored twice in the opening eighteen minutes and Bruno Tabata added a third goal in the twenty-ninth minute to effectively end any hopes of a Maritimo comeback. The hosts had 60% of the overall possession and had more shots during the ninety minutes than Portimonense, but the visitors clinical first half performance ensured they took home all three points.

Portimonese head into the game as the clear form favourites with four wins and two defeats from their last six matches, while Maritimo have lost five of their last six matches and are without a win in their last eleven league games. Goals have been a major issue for the hosts this season, with Rodrigo Pinho their top scorer with two goals, and so far the only player to score more than once in the league this season. Nakajima leads the way with five goals in the Primeira Liga for Portimonense, but could miss this weekends game through injury, which will be a big blow for the visitors.

We’re confident that Portimonense will win on Saturday, and have backed the scoreline to end 1-0. Portimonense have won four of their last five matches in the Primeira Liga, while Maritimo have lost five of their last six in all competitions. Maritimo’s dreadful run of form in the Primeira Liga has seen them go eleven matches without a win, and we can’t see that run coming to an end on Saturday. The hosts have failed to score in four of their last six matches, and with Portimonense keeping two clean sheets in their last two matches, it’s going to be a tough game for Maritimo this weekend.