Nacional vs Belenenses Predictions

Nacional occupy eleventh place in the Primeira Liga table and sit six points and four positions behind Sunday’s opponents Belenenses. The visitors narrowly beat Vitoria Guimaraes at home on Sunday and need a decent result this weekend to continue their push for European football next season.

Nacional were beaten 3-1 in Porto on Monday night, but gave a good account of themselves against the champions elect. Algeria’s Brahimi handed Porto the lead in the thirty-second minute and teammate Tiquinho doubled the hosts lead six minutes later. Nacional responded before the break with a goal from their leading goalscorer Rochez to make the half time scoreline 2-1. Porto had to remain patient against their guests who were defending well and enjoying their fair share of the ball, but shortly before the hour mark, Brahimi got through on goal to score his second goal of the game and put some daylight between the two clubs. Porto held on to secure all three points, but Nacional will be happy with the way they played against the league leaders.

Belenenses moved level on points with Vitoria Guimaraes after beating their rivals for a European place 1-0. Brazil’s Henrique Almeida scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the thirty-first minute and was taken off and replaced by Jonatan in the sixty-second minute. Vitoria Guimaraes were left wondering just how they lost this match after dominating the ninety minutes with 63% of the overall possession, five corners to their hosts one, and twelve shots to Belenenses’ four. However, it was the hosts that picked up a crucial three points in the race to finish in fifth place, but Moreirense remain the favourites to qualify for the Europa League as they sit three points clear of their rivals.

Nacional played host to Belenenses the last time the two teams clashed back in February 2017. On that day a twenty-sixth minute strike from Aristeguieta saw Nacional lead at the break, but Juanto’s late strike earned Belenenses a share of the spoils. With three wins, one draw, and two defeats from their last six matches, visitors Belenenses head into Sunday’s game as the form favourites ahead of their hosts who have won two, drawn one, and lost three of their last six. With eight goals in the league so far this season, Argentina’s Rochez leads the way in front of goal for Nacional, while Fredy top scores for Belenenses with six Primeira Liga goals.

We’re confident that both teams will score in this game, and have backed the final scoreline to read 1-1. Both teams have scored in the last six competitive meetings between these two clubs, while both teams have also scored in three of Nacional’s and four of Belenenses’ last five matches. Nacional are unbeaten in their last four home games in the Primeira Liga, and we expect that run to continue this weekend.