Covilhã (home)
- Rui Mota took over as head coach in mid-season and has got Covilhã to play a compact, disciplined style that keeps them in a low-block formation and lets them play fast, vertical soccer when they win the ball.
- It worked perfectly at Amora last Sunday when Jailson Gomes’ second goal opened up the right side and allowed his teammates to play with a sense of confidence.
- Cheikh Niang leads the attack for Covilhã, but Gomes provides width and penetration from the right, while Mota’s team are solid in defense when they are in form.
Caldas (away)
- Caldas are more of a width-and-possession side with their defence in a back three, and while they like to control the pace of games, they are also adept at pressing high and winning the ball back to build a new attack.
- Filipe Oliveira is their most dangerous player from the middle of the field and he has a knack for big goals like his equaliser against 1.º Dezembro in their 2 - 1 comeback.
- Luís Farinha came off the bench to grab the game-winner in second-half injury time on 15 February and he is Caldas’ ‘big-game’ player, proving decisive in late-game situations.
Head-to-Head
Covilhã lead the H2H by one win, but five games have been settled by a single goal or drawn.
Covilhã
- Cheikh Niang leads the attack for Covilhã, but Gomes provides width and penetration from the right, while Mota’s team are solid in defense when they are in form.
- Jailson Gomes’ second goal opened up the right side and allowed his teammates to play with a sense of confidence.
Caldas
- Filipe Oliveira is their most dangerous player from the middle of the field and he has a knack for big goals like his equaliser against 1.º Dezembro in their 2 - 1 comeback.
- Luís Farinha came off the bench to grab the game-winner in second-half injury time on 15 February and he is Caldas’ ‘big-game’ player, proving decisive in late-game situations.
- Wilson Soares is a rock-solid defender who can make big saves and has the presence to keep his teammates calm under pressure.
Betting Insights
- A draw seems the best bet here, although the value might be in the Caldas 0.0 ASI line at 2.48 as Covilhã are at 2.72 and the draw is 2.92.
- The 1.61 quote on under 2.5 goals has to be the best play in this game because, even though both teams are in the maintenance group of the Liga 3 standings, the teams will be wary of each other and there is a good chance neither will take a risk in the first 45 minutes.
- Caldas are on eight points in the group (5 bonus + 3 from their win over 1.º Dezembro) while Covilhã are on four (1 bonus + 3 from their Amora win).
Prediction
Both clubs have plenty of grit and determination and this should be a scrappy affair with individual brilliance or a late goal likely to decide it.
