Nacional vs Boavista Predictions

Victory in a five-goal thriller against Desportivo Aves saw Nacional move up three places in the Primeira Liga table, putting a little breathing space between themselves and the bottom three. Boavista remain in the relegation zone following a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to the league leaders Porto, and Sunday’s visitors will take a lot of belief and positiveness from that result and will quietly fancy their chances against Nacional.

A twenty-first minute strike from Gonçalves handed Nacional the lead in Vila das Aves, but the pair would go in level at the half time interval thanks to a thirty-second minute equaliser from Ponck. Both teams were evenly matched throughout the match, but it was the visitors who took their chances during the second half. In the sixty-fifth minute Nacional were awarded a penalty and Camacho made no mistake from twelve yards to put the visitors in front. The games decisive goal arrived with six minutes left on the clock when Rochez made it 3-1 to Nacional and, despite Baldé pulling a goal back for the hosts late on, the visitors went on to claim all three points.

Last time out, Boavista defended well at home and frustrated their guests, but rarely threatened Porto at the other end of the pitch. The pair went in at the break goalless and the second half progressed in a similar vein to the first with Porto making all the moves but struggling to breakdown their hosts. The visitors had 62% of the possession away from home, eight corners to their hosts one, and thirteen shots to Boavista’s six, but it wasn’t until the introduction of Hernâni for Brahimi in the eighty-eighth minute that the game changed. Deep into stoppage time the visitors created one last chance and substitute Hernâni scored a dramatic winning goal for the Portuguese giants, his first of the season.

There isn’t much between the pair in the form guide, but Boavista do just edge out their opponents after picking up two wins, two draws, and suffering two defeats in their last six matches. Nacional have lost three of their last six, drawn one, and won two, but each of those victories and that draw arrived in their last three matches. Two Argentinians lead the way in front of goal for both teams this season, Rochez with five Primeira Liga goals for Nacional, and Falcone with just two for Boavista.

We’re confident that under 2.5 goals will be scored on Sunday, and that this game will finish goalless. Four of the last six competitive matches between these two clubs have produced under 2.5 goals, while three of Boavista’s last four matches have also seen under 2.5 goals scored.
Nacional have failed to score in two of their last five matches, and Boavista have failed to score in four of their last five, but have also kept three clean sheets during that period.