Amarante
- Amarante are on a five-match unbeaten run in competitive matches (W2, D3).
- Their form in the current Liga 3 Promotion Group is seven wins, two draws and one defeat in ten matches, with 16 goals scored and eight conceded.
Santarem
- Santarem have been erratic and inconsistent in the Promotion Group, taking just two wins, one draw and seven defeats from their ten fixtures.
- Santarém play a very different game to Amarante, who like to build from the back and control the game with possession.
Head-to-Head
Amarante have dominated the previous two encounters with Santarem in the past three years, winning both times, including a dramatic 2-1 victory in March’s Promotion Group clash.
Key Players
- Captain Marco Grilo provides the defensive stability at the heart of the action and can deliver set pieces from the back.
- Bura is a threat in the air and he opened the scoring in the last meeting of these two clubs at the end of March.
- Jordan Saint-Louis has done the same for Amarante, scoring their 90th-minute winner at Santarém in March.
- Daniel Rodrigues is the set-piece and penalty-kick expert, having converted from the spot in Amarante’s away win in the corresponding fixture a few weeks ago.
- Tiago Ventura has also been an impact player in the later stages of the Promotion Phase and has scored decisive goals in the promotion phase.
Betting Insights
- Alex Costa’s men are the clear favourites with the bookies at 1.7 for Sunday’s home encounter with struggling Santarem, but the visitors are well-priced at 4.9 and the draw has some appeal at 3.4.
- Backing both teams not to score makes sense in this game at 1.67 as the hosts are likely to come out on top in a tight, tense game that could be decided by one moment of magic or good defending at the other end.
Prediction
- Amarante’s confidence and momentum is on the up, while Santarém are coming into this match with the crowd on their necks after a run of recent defeats by one-goal margins.
- Costa’s side have been much the better of the two this season and have a stronger claim to the three points on Sunday.
