The Portuguese Primeira has been a compelling watch this season, delivering goals, excitement and- in particular- excellent defensive displays.
Benfica are showing intent this season, after managing third place in the previous campaign. Indeed, even on the continent, they have held their own in a group containing PSG and Juventus.
So far, they have stayed unbeaten in all competitions. In the absence of Darwin Nunez, who has since joined Liverpool, Goncalo Ramos has stepped up to the plate.
With nine matches played, some exciting bet options seem certain to guarantee great returns. Of course, this is based on some convincing statistics and patterns.
As such, here are four bet options that could see punters enjoy fantastic dividends on their stakes in the Primeira.
Porto To Win At Home
The defending champions are only three points behind the leaders, Benfica. And after a slow start in the Champions League, they have won their last two matches and are in the race for qualification for the knockouts.
Sergio Conceicao has built a formidable team, blending youth and experience. This is a side that can do everything just about as well. The Dragons can dictate the play as well as sit deep and transition swiftly.
Much of this is also due to the stability of the side, with the core having played together for a while. The duo of Pepe and David Carmo have developed a solid partnership in defence, having played together for seasons.
Mehdi Taremi and Evanilison have also been the trusted heads up front. The Iranian has now scored five goals in the Primeira this season.
This term, Porto has won every match played at the Estadio Dragao. And with their sights set on successfully defending the title, a home win in the league seems like a very sensible option.
Under 3.5 Goals In Matches Involving Casa Pia
This season, the newly promoted Casa Pia are punching above their weight, but they don’t mind. The Geese are fourth in the log, having lost just twice.
Even more fascinating is that they are achieving this in the way they know how to. Perhaps the neutral viewer will find this method unappealing and boring. They are averaging just a goal per match.
Filipe Martins, since joining the Lisbon-based side, has helped them secure promotion while prioritising defence. In the Liga Pro, last term, they conceded the fewest goals, although they found scoring a little easier than they are currently doing.
However, after nine matches played, no team in the top division has conceded fewer goals (5) than Martin’s side. Of the nine scored, Godwin Saviour has scored two.
Casa Pia has conceded more than one goal in a match once this season. At the same time, they have scored more than two goals twice. Versco Fernandez, Nermin Zolotic and Joao Nunez have been watertight in Martins’ three-man defence.
In effect, backing Casa Pia to play out under 3.5 matches this season seems like a must-do for every punter.
Over 1.5 Goals In Matches Involving Sporting
Since winning the Primeira Liga two seasons ago, almost going unbeaten, Sporting have simply put themselves back in the reckoning.
They pushed Porto all the way last season, only falling short with just a few matches to go. In any case, they finished in second place, six points behind the champions.
However, this season, they have struggled to hit the ground running, domestically and abroad. With only nine matches played, they have lost the same number of matches as they did in the entirety of last season.
The excuse, essentially, has been the absence of a conventional forward, with Marcus Edwards and Francisco Trincao alternating the false-nine role. And yet, a three-man central defence has not done much for the cause.
So far, there have been over 1.5 goals scored in every single league match involving the Lions. This trend looks sure to continue.
Goal/Goal Matches Involving Rio Ave
Rio Ave has immediately secured promotion to the top division after failing to survive two seasons ago. And yet, they are struggling in 13th position, having won just twice.
The defence has been the Achilles heel of Vilacondenses this term. Only bottom-side Maritimo has conceded fewer goals than the Vila do Conde-based team.
And yet, offensively, only the traditional big-four teams (Benfica, Porto, Braga, and Sporting) in the Primeira Liga have scored more goals than Luis Freire’s men. Abdul-Aziz Yakubu continues to plunder the goals, thriving as a second striker in a 3-5-2 formation.
For most of it, Rio Ave tends to commit men forward, with wingbacks, Costinha and Pedro Amaral, getting caught out when the opponents turn over possession.
Rio Ave has recorded six goal/goal results this season. And with the high-risk football that they play, this option looks feasible for punters.
