Leixoes – Covilha SOCCER PICKS
Leixões and Sporting Covilhã meet at Estádio do Mar, in a match for the 15th round of the League of Honor. The record of direct matches played in this stadium indicates total balance between these two teams, since there were 2 draws and 1 win for each team in the last 4 matches. But the last time these two teams met in this stadium was on 10-09-2017, for the League of Honor, which ended with the victory of Leixões by (2-1). Rubén Belima (6 ‘) and Derick Poloni (83’) scored the goals of the game, for Leixões, and S. Fatai (47 ‘), for Sporting Covilhã. The condition home / away deserves particular attention, because despite this being a match between 9th and 17th of the league table, it is actually a match between the 13th ranked in home games and the 16th as a visitor.
Leixões:
After 4 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses, the home team is currently in the 9 th position, with 12 points won. In their last match, they lost with the Academic out by (2-1), after in the previous match they lost by (1-2) at home, in a match against Cova Piedade. This is a team that usually gets more positive results in away matches than at home, since it won 7 points in away matches and 5 at their stadium, with 6 goals scored and 9 conceded in away matches, against 6 goals scored and 6 conceded at home. In the last 6 home league matches Leixões has a record of 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses, so they have won 8 points out of 18 possible.
In this competition, he has lost the last 4 matches he has played. In their home league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 0-0 (3 out of 6 matches). The team allowed goals to the opponent in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition, so it has not been very strong defensively. This is a team that marks few times is first and only managed to open the scoring in 2 of its last 14 games for the League of Honor, of these 2 came to rest in advantage in 1 and won at the end of the 90 ‘in all. In 14 matches in this competition, they only got 2 comebacks in the 10 matches in which they suffered the first goal. In the last 6 home matches for all competitions there is 1 period that stands out: they have scored 3 of their 6 goals between minutes (76’-90 ‘).
The Leixões finished the year with a defeat, by 2-1, in the displacement to the stadium of the Academic, adding the second consecutive defeat: Pedro Henriques was the author of the only goal of the team. It is important to point out that Jorge Casquilha is the new coach of the Matosinhos team. It is likely that with the new coach the team will be present in the usual 4-3-3, favoring fast wing transitions. Bernardo Martins, Pedro Henriques and Roniel are responsible for putting the rival defense in the right direction. Ofori, Oudrhiri and Luís Silva must play in the midfield. The Brazilian duo Roniel and Pedro are the team’s scorers, with 3 goals scored. The local coach must have all the staff available for the reception at Sporting da Covilhã.
Probable lineup: Tony, Jorge Silva, Bura, André Ceitil, Pedro Monteiro, Luis Silva, Bernardo Martins, L. Ofori, Pedro Henrique, A. Oudrhiri, Roniel.
Sporting Covilhã:
The away team is currently in the 17 th position of the league, with 8 points won, after 3 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses. In the penultimate match, they lost in an away match against Porto II, by (3-0). In the last match, they won in a home match against Sporting Braga II, by (1-0). This is a stronger team in their stadium, where they have won 5 points, against only 3 in their away matches. For the league, Sporting Covilhã won 3 points out of 21 possible points, after 1 win and 6 losses in the last 7 away matches.
For this competition, it registers a sequence of 6 defeats in the last matches as a visitor. The team allowed goals to the opponent in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition, so it was not very strong defensively. In 15 matches in this tournament, he suffered the first goal 8 times and never got the comeback.
Sporting de Covilhã entered the new year with a 1-0 victory at the Braga reception, finishing a seven-match series without victory: Gaius Makouta was the hero of the game, scoring the winning goal. The stranger set should act in the traditional 4-3-3, privileging the transitions by the wings. The three most advanced players in the visiting team are Bonani, Adriano and Deivison. The last mentioned player is the top scorer of the team, with 5 goals scored. Guillermo, Mica and Gaius Makouta must play in the central zone of the field. The technician Filó must have all the staff available for the match against Leixões.
Probable alignment: Vitor São Bento, Jaime, Henrique Gomes, João Cunha, K. Zarabi, G. Makouta, Miranda, Mica Silva, Adriano Castanheira, Deivison, Bonani.
