📏 Form Guide

Nacional

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Nacional will be looking for an improved result here after a 2-0 Primeira Liga defeat last time out to Sporting Lisbon.

In that game, Nacional had 36% possession and 3 shots at goal with 1 of them on target. Sporting CP had 15 shots at goal with 5 of them on target. Trincão (45') and João Simões (90') scored for Sporting Lisbon.

It has not been often in recent games where Nacional haven’t conceded. The facts show that Nacional have been scored against in 5 of their previous 6 clashes, leaking 9 goals in the process. We will have to find out if that trend can be continued on here.

Coming into this fixture, Nacional haven't been defeated in their previous 2 home league matches.

Arouca

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Arouca will go into this meeting following on from a 1-0 Primeira Liga win versus Moreirense in their most recent outing.

In that match, Arouca managed 50% possession and 15 attempts at goal with 4 of them on target. The only player on the scoresheet for Arouca was Jason (77'). Moreirense got 7 shots on goal with 1 of them on target.

Over the course of their last six clashes, Arouca have helped themselves to a tally of 9 goals. Arouca have also managed to score in every single one of those games. During that period, they have had 7 goals go against them.

Going into this game, the form guide shows that Arouca:

• haven't won against Nacional when they've played them away from home in the last 4 matches in the league. Not the best of away records.
• are undefeated by Nacional when they've played them away from home in the last 3 matches in the league.
• are undefeated in their last 2 away league matches.

🤜🤛 Head to head

A look at their past head to head clashes going back to 01/05/2016 shows us that Nacional have won 1 of them and Arouca 3, with the number of drawn results being 2.

In all, 13 goals were scored between the two sides in these games, with 4 of them for Os Alvinegros and 9 netted by Arouca. The average goals per game has been 2.17.

The last league meeting between these clubs was Primeira Liga match day 3 on 25/08/2024 when it finished Arouca 1-0 Nacional.

That time, Arouca managed 47% possession and 10 attempts on goal with 4 on target. Their only player on the scoresheet was Henrique Araújo (27').

Nacional got 14 shots on goal with 1 on target.

The referee was Sérgio Guelho.

ℹ️ Team News: Nacional

It’s a low absenteeism rate, with just the sole fitness concern for the Nacional gaffer Tiago Margarido to be concerned about due to a largely intact group. Miguel Baeza (unknown injury) will miss out.

In our view, Os Alvinegros may well make use of the 4-3-3 system for this one and select Lucas Franca, Gustavo Garcia, Ulisses Rocha, Ze Vitor, Jose Gomes, Luis Esteves, Matheus Dias, Bruno Costa, Dudu Teodora, Isaac Aguiar and Arvin Appiah.

📋 Team News: Arouca

Arouca manager Vasco Seabra has to choose from a squad that has some fitness concerns. Nino Galović (unknown injury) and Pedro Moreira (unknown injury) are not ready for selection.

It’s our belief that Arouca appear most likely to begin the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation, settling for Nico Mantl, Tiago Esgaio, Chico Lamba, Jose Fontan, Weverson, David Simao, Taichi Fukui, Jason, Morlaye Sylla, Alfonso Trezza and Henrique Araujo.

🧠 Prediction

We feel that Arouca and Nacional are probably both going to find scoring goals difficult here.

It’s looking like it could well end up as a draw. Therefore, we predict a hard-fought 0-0 draw when the full-time whistle blows.

Renata Leite, 15:01 01/02/2025