Vitoria Setubal V Moreirense
Friday 23rd August 2019 – 19:00 Kick-Off
Portugese Primeira Liga
Pick: Moreirense Win or Draw (Double Chance)
Odds: 3/5
Bookmaker: Betway
1 | X | 2 | |
---|---|---|---|
7/5 | 2/1 | 43/20 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 21st August 2019 at 19:40)
Preview: Not the most exciting of starts to the new Portuguese league season for Vitoria Setubal, whose supporters are still to witness their side score a goal after two games played and only one point registered. Perhaps their luck will change up against a Moreirense side they beat 3-0 in last season’s corresponding fixture. The Estadio do Bonfim, home of Vitoria Setubal, is the venue.
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Vitoria Setubal Preview – First league win of the season on the horizon?
Whether choosing to focus on the performances from last season or their early efforts in the new season, it all makes for rather grim reading material when Vitoria Setubal are concerned. A team that ended 2018-19 four points above the relegation spots in 13th position have begun 2019-20 in relegation form even if one of their opening two fixtures was tough on paper.
After two games, Setubal already find themselves near the foot of the table following a goalless draw at home with Tondela and a 4-0 loss incurred at FC Porto. That is one point collected and zero goals scored, which feels like a continuation of the form displayed last season. The latter especially. Only two teams scored with less frequency in the last league campaign, with their total of 28 goals from 34 fixtures meaning they averaged less than a goal per game.
Unfortunately, for Setubal anyway, this lack of potency in front of goal last term was more prevalent in front of their home fans. Which might explain their struggles to win matches when on hosting duties. Just one team registered fewer points at home than Setubal (18), who after drawing 0-0 with Tondela on the opening matchday have now managed one win from the last thirteen home fixtures (W1 D7 L5).
The one positive, and it could be the most significant of them all, is this fixture itself. The last six league meetings with Moreirense have resulted in zero defeats and three victories (W3 D3), which includes a convincing 3-0 scoreline the last occasion these two teams clashed at Setubal’s Estadio do Bonfim in Portuguese league action. That was, however, one of only four victories secured at home in 2018-19 (W4 D6 L7).
Moreirense Preview – Another strong away performance from last season’s most improved side?
The surprise package of last season’s Portuguese Primeira Liga were undoubtedly this Moreirense side, who went from finishing in 14th at the end of the 2017-18 league term to securing a more than respectable sixth place twelve months later. The challenge now will be maintaining those same standards for the new campaign, which could be a lot easier said than done for a club more accustomed to fighting relegation than for top-half placements.
Key to their success last time around was an ability to churn out points consistently away from home. Of their total of sixteen league wins, precisely half were earned on the road (W8 D1 L8, GF21 GA25), with their away record ranking as the fifth-best in the entire division – only the three most successful and recognisable names in Portuguese football (Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon) recorded more away wins.
Therefore Moreirense are probably being underestimated here, with their odds looking very appealing for a team that won twice as many matches, and scored with far greater regularity, on their travels last season than their opponents could manage inside their own stadium.
Then again, this does remain a problematic fixture; not since March 2016 have the club from Guimares in northern Portugal celebrated victory over Vitoria Setubal, who have now won each of the last two meetings at home including a recent cup encounter 1-0 earlier this month. That result for Moreirense was followed by a 3-1 loss away to Sporting Braga on the opening matchday, before routing Gil Vicente 3-0 at home last time out.
Vitoria Setubal V Moreirense Key Facts:
- Last season, Moreirense recorded more wins away from home (W8 D1 L8) than Setbual managed from their home fixtures (W4 D7 L6).li>
- Setubal are still to score their first goal of the season after firing blanks at home to Tondole (0-0) and away to Porto (4-0).
- The previous six league meetings have seen Setubal (W3 D3) go unbeaten versus Moreirense.
Betting Summary
While they have dominated recent meetings to win three of the last four as the home side, which does include a recent cup encounter at the very beginning of this month, Setubal don’t strike me as the sort of team I would want to be investing much faith in at odds slightly above evens. Just one win from their last thirteen home league games is dire, scoring well below a goal per game (0.76) at home last season. Meanwhile they could only muster a goalless draw in their first home game of this season with Tondela.
Just the five teams bettered Moreirense’s points return away from home last season, winning twice as many matches away (8) than Setubal managed at home (4). Their rate of goals was also far superior, at 1.24 per away game compared with the 0.76 their opponents posted at home. The obvious drawback is Moreirense’s lousy record in this fixture.
Put simply, the hosts are an obvious lay. Yes, Vitoria Setubal are unbeaten in the most recent six league meetings with their opponents – which becomes seven when including a recent 1-0 cup win – but it is Moreirense who have shown the greater consistency in the past twelve months, especially away from home, to suggest they are capable of picking up a positive outcome here.