Santarém
Santarem’s home form has been built on a compact block, set-piece proficiency and good transition play.
Amarante
Amarante’s ability to keep things tight, win ugly and counter-attack has been their recipe for success under Alex Costa.
Head-to-Head
- Amarante and Santarém have split their two meetings this season with Amarante winning 2-0 in the Taça de Portugal and the Liga 3 clash ending 0-0 at Santarém’s ground.
- With promotion on the line and both teams excelling at defence, Saturday’s game is likely to be just as cagey.
Amarante
- Alex Costa’s appointment as manager in October has had a transformative effect on Amarante, who have become a disciplined, counter-attacking unit that has won several crucial games by the skin of their teeth.
- They will look to take the ball off Santarem, counter-attack at pace and cause trouble down the wings where Jordan Saint-Louis’ speed can create problems for any defence.
- Feliciano is the anchor and leader at the back where his organisation and leadership have been crucial to Amarante’s rise into the promotion places.
- Amarante have a few players with set-piece capabilities, but the main man is Daniel Rodrigues, who has chipped in with decisive goals to keep his side on track during this promotion push.
Santarem
- Carlos Fernandes has a very different set of tools at his disposal at Santarem, where his players have performed well in a compact, medium-low block this season.
- Fernandes’ men are good at occupying space, dictating tempo and pressing in situational moments to frustrate opponents while being dangerous from set-pieces.
- Manú has been Santarém’s ace in the hole during this second phase of the campaign, scoring in their 3-1 win over Mafra.
- Tomás Castro and Gonçalo Águas have provided good rotational options up front, but it is Marco Grilo, who has been captaining the side from midfield and providing set-piece delivery, who has been the glue.
Betting Insights
- Under 2.5 goals is the clear choice in the betting at 1.44.
- Santarém are the slight favorites at 2.25.
- Amarante are priced at 3.15.
- The draw is available at 2.94.
Prediction
- A close game is the most likely result.
- Both clubs are well organised, have different styles of play and we’re expecting a game of chess to be decided by one moment or a piece of set-piece brilliance.
