Open game expected at Estádio Nacional: Belenenses vs Arouca preview

We should expect both teams to be fresh and ready for this match, as there is some time since both teams last played. Let's have a look at how the teams are doing!

Belenenses form and stats

The home fans haven’t been spoiled with victories in the Primeira Liga this season. Belenenses have only managed 1 win, 2 draws and 4 losses from their games here at Estádio Nacional. Regardless of arena the trend is looking very unhealthy for Belenenses with their five defeats in a row. Not since the Santa Clara game, 70 days ago, have they avoided a loss.

Stress levels are on the rise for Belenenses's attacking players as they have now played 450 minutes without scoring in a league game. Pedro was their last goal scorer.

In their previous game, the manager Nunes Cândido led his Belenenses to a defeat in the Primeira Liga match away at Vizela. The manager is hoping to put things right immediately here at Estádio Nacional. The striker Nuno outperformed all the other players in that game and managed a match rating of 7.35 out of 10. Nuno hit three key passes.

Preceding that game was the away draw at Rio Ave (after extra-time, 6-5 on penalties) that finished 1-1.

This is expected to be a close game, with Belenenses perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Belenenses as a small favourite), we find 13 games. Belenenses has won three of these, drawn three and lost seven.

The manager Nunes Cândido will start preparations for the next game as soon this is finished, as the hosts are going to Famalicão in only four days.

Belenenses have scored 5 league goals here from 7 matches, not a lot. Belenenses are struggling defensively, conceding on average more than two goals per home game (15 from 7 played). Belenenses has at home met teams with this table position (low), three times. It has ended with less than 2.5 goals 2 of 3 times.

Arouca form and stats

The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Arouca so far with only 4 points returning home. The records show 0-4-4 (win-draw-lose).

Arouca failed to get anything from their last game, a Primeira Liga home match vs Sporting Braga (placed 4th) that ended with defeat 0-6. As you can see from the result above, the defeat against Sporting Braga was particularly ugly (0-6). The humiliation is still top of mind. Thales, who plays in defense, got the "man of the match" on his team with the rating 7.01. Thales hit one key pass and won 11 of 13 duels.

A 1-1 draw at Portimonense's stadium before that.

So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Arouca playing away and similar expectations, we found nine relevant matches. Results were two Arouca wins, four draws and three defeats.

The visitors have scored 6 goals from 8 away games in the league, an average of less than one per game. Arouca's defence is not exactly unbeatable as they have conceded 13 goals from these trips. When Arouca is visiting a side on the bottom half, 2 of 2 matches have ended with three or more goals. These are matches against Santa Clara, Tondela, Famalicão, Arouca and Moreirense.

Head 2 Head

Belenenses-Arouca H2H statistics last ten meetings regardless of arena: Belenenses four wins, Arouca three wins, three draws. four of these ten matches had three or more goals (over 2,5).

Top Goalscorers

A. Oliveira Silva 3 goals

A. Watshini Bukia 3 goals

O. Dabbagh 3 goals

Belenenses missing players

Arouca missing players