CS Maritimo Funchal
- CS Maritimo Funchal head into their matchup with mid-table Leixoes on Friday night as the top-performing team in the division.
- With 63 points from 31 games played, Vasco Matos’ men are the strongest side in the Liga Segunda 2025-2026 and deserve their place at the top of the table.
- Recent record: W3, D1, L1 in their last 5 games.
- The four-man defense is protected by a double pivot, the full-backs provide width when in possession and the team has to be patient to move the ball through the thirds at their own pace.
- Simo Bouzaidi has stepped up his game of late, scoring two of his team’s last 4 goals in 5 games.
- The danger man remains Carlos Daniel, who has 10 goals in 31 appearances in the Liga Segunda this campaign.
Leixoes
- Leixoes are having an excellent season under the guidance of Joao Nuno Fonseca.
- The club are 6th in Segunda Liga, having picked up 44 points from 31 matches, a mid-table position.
- Fonseca has instilled a pragmatic style on his team that keeps the defense compact and organised, relying on their ability to counterattack and wing play to break through and get their goals.
- Leixoes are unbeaten in their last 5 matches, winning the last 3.
- Jose Bica is Leixoes' goalscorer, with 9 goals in 24 Segunda Liga appearances this campaign.
- They have been equally strong on the road all season, winning 6, drawing 4 and losing 5 of their 15 Segunda Liga games.
Head-to-Head
- Maritimo won 4-1 away at Leixoes in the reverse league fixture 4 months ago.
- Maritimo have won 1 and drawn 1 of their last 2 head-to-heads with Leixoes.
Key Players
- Carlos Daniel - 10 goals in 31 appearances for Maritimo.
- Simo Bouzaidi - has scored two of Maritimo’s last 4 goals in 5 games.
- Jose Bica - 9 goals in 24 appearances for Leixoes.
Betting Insights
- We’re taking the short odds on offer of 1.91.
- Maritimo are the superior side and have won 8, drawn 4 and lost 3 of their 15 home games in Segunda Liga this season.
Prediction
- Although Leixoes are in good form, we feel Maritimo are the better side in this one.
- We feel they will have what it takes to claim the win at Estádio dos Barreiros.
