Tondela vs CD Mafra Predictions

• Second tier Mafra have won six of their last nine away matches in all competitions.
• Relegation-threatened Tondela have lost their last four games.
• Mafra have beaten top-flight Portimonense and Moreirense in previous rounds this season.

Segunda Liga side can stun top-flight Tondela

Struggling Tondela take on Segunda Liga Mafra in the first leg of their Taca de Portugal semi-final with the winner set to make their first ever appearance in the national cup final.

Tondela are favoured for this home leg by the oddsmakers, who believe Pako Ayestaran’s squad have the quality and experience to see off a second-tier opponent. The Auriverdes have lost their last four games coming into this fixture, but there wasn’t much between the sides in last weekend’s 2-1 defat to Famalicao.

Mafra, who have beaten top-flight Portimonense and Moreirense in previous rounds this season, saw their league form suffer after claiming this semi-final berth. Ricardo Sousa’s side took just two points from their next five league fixtures before getting back on track with two wins and a draw in the last three.

Tondela tend to fold under pressure

Sousa has a bigger cup pedigree than either of the two clubs in this clash, having scored the winner for Beira-Mar in the 1999 final. He has got plenty right during this cup run and his team also seem to have had the rub of the green.

Tondela have lost five of their last seven home games and don’t appear to be a side that play well under pressure. This cup run has been a welcome distraction from the disappointing league campaign, but things get serious now with them one step away from the final.

Mafra can surf the wave of positivity to get a result in this first leg and may even be good enough to pull off another shock victory. They are winning games, scoring goals and will not fear their struggling hosts one bit. A double chance play on the visitors looks worthy as they might settle for a draw on the night while a 2-1 correct score bet on them looks to have potential given they scored multiple goals against both Portimonense and Moreirense in previous rounds.