Tondela and Boavista face at Estádio João Cardoso, in a match for the 30th round of the Primeira Liga. In the last direct confrontation for this edition of the league, on 15-12-2018, Boavista won at home against (2-0). In this stadium, the history of direct confrontations indicates total equilibrium between these two teams, since there was 1 draw and 1 win for each team in the last 3 matches. However, the last time these two teams played a match at this stadium was on 04-11-2017, for the Primeira Liga, which ended with the victory of Tondela by (3-2). The goals of the match were scored by Murilo (77 ‘e 85’) and Tómané (78 ‘), for Tondela, and Raphael Branco (64′) and Fábio Espinho (69 ‘), for Boavista. Despite being a match between 15th and 14th of the table, it is actually a match between the 11th classified in home matches and the 17th as a visitor.
Tondela:
The home team is currently in the 15 th position of the league, with 28 points won, after 7 wins, 7 draws and 15 losses. In the penultimate match, they won in a home match against Portimonense, by (3-2). In the last match, they lost in an away match against Sporting Braga, by (3-0). This is a stronger team in his home stadium, where he has won 18 points, against only 10 in his away matches. In the last 10 home league matches Tondela has won 4, tied 1 and lost 5, for which they have won 13 points out of 30 possible. In their home league matches the most frequent final result at halftime was 0-1 (5 out of 14 matches). Defensive consistency has not been their best feature, as they have conceded goals in 8 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 29 matches in this competition, they only got 2 comebacks in the 18 games in which they suffered the first goal.
Tondela left the relegation zone, after the excellent triumph against Portimonense on matchday 28. However, in the previous round, deprived of important players, Pepa’s team lost again, but has the mitigating effect of having been at home of Sporting de Braga. The team was unable to discuss the game with the arsenal team, and Pepa opted to adapt Joãozinho to the defensive axis, replacing captain Ricardo Costa. However, this option did not have the desired effect and in this game the Portuguese coach can change Bruno Monteiro from the center of the field for the defensive axis, or choose Jaquité, who did not leave the bench in the previous game. It is not easy to substitute Ricardo Costa, even more in a team in which the solutions for the defensive axis are scarce. This is a vitally important game for Tondela, in terms of staying in the main division, the NOS League.
Boavista:
The away team is currently in the 14 th position of the league, with 29 points won, after 9 wins, 5 draws and 15 losses. In the penultimate match, they lost in an away match against Porto, by (2-0). In the last match, they won in a home match against Nacional, by (1-0). This is a stronger team in his stadium, where he has won 22 points, against only 7 in his away matches. In his last 10 away games for the championship Boavista has 3 draws and 7 losses, so he won 3 points out of 30 possible.
For this competition, they have not won any of the last 13 away matches. In their home league matches the most frequent final result at halftime was 1-0 (5 out of 14 matches). Their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 8 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 29 games in this competition, he never got the comeback in the 14 games in which he suffered the first goal.
The Boavista continues to hesitate in the displacements it has made. We can even say that there is a Boavista in the Estadio del Bessa and another in the status of visitor. In the last day he received and won the National, but the 6 defeats in the last 7 trips show well the fragility of the team in that condition. This is a game of vital importance for the Tondela, but also for the Boavista, since they face two direct adversaries in the struggle for maintenance. For Tondela only victory ensures that the team remains in a safe area, at least one more day, regardless of the result that the National team can do. Any other result can bring the team back to the drop zone.
