Tondela vs Belenenses Predictions

• Both teams have scored in seven of the last eight Tondela home league games.
• Both teams have scored in two of the last three Belenenses away league games.

Tondela need to take cup form into league campaign

Two teams in desperate need of points meet at Estádio João Cardoso on Monday night and it’s not clear cut that either Tondela or Belenenses can be trusted to deliver a win. Tondela coach Pako Ayesteran was smiling after his side beat second-tier Mafra 3-0 on Thursday night to take a decisive first-leg lead in the Portuguese cup semi-final.

That competition has been a welcome distraction for a team that have been mired in a relegation fight all season, but it hasn’t provided a springboard for any league success. Tondela have taken one point from the 12 on offer in matches that have directly followed their cup exploits and the visit of rock-bottom Belenenses is as big as any they have played this term.

Although Ayesteran’s side have lost five of their last six home league games, they are at least scoring goals, which is more than can be said for Belenenses.

Belenenses will believe they can score against terrible Tondela defence 

The visitors from Lisbon, who are on their third head coach of the campaign, have posted blank scorecards in six of their last eight away games. The inexperienced Franclim Carvalho enjoyed some initial success in getting an away point in his first game in charge before overseeing a shock 1-0 home win over Vitoria Guimaraes last month.

Their last two results have been what you would expect from a team destined for the drop and they haven’t mustered an xG figure of greater than 0.5 in each of their last two away trips,. But may not have to in order to score on Monday because five of the last six visitors to Tondela have outperformed their xG on the day.

Both teams to score looks a good way into this trappy contest as the stats do align quite well. Both teams have scored in seven of the last eight Tondela home league game and in two of the last three Belenenses away league games. A 2-1 Tondela win is taken in correct score betting as the hosts’ cup run is evidence that they a better team on paper than their lowly league position suggests while Belenenses are not.

*To use the Live Streaming service you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.