The Portuguese League Cup group stage has unfolded in Portugal over the course of the last month. While national teams were playing in Qatar in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, club teams have been competing in Portugal in the group stage of the League Cup.
On Thursday, Group H will return to action as Estoril face off with Famalicao. The home team is unbeaten in six straight games between Estoril and Famalicao. History is on Estoril’s side, although they posted a 2W-1D-3L record against Famalicao in the teams’ last six encounters.
Quinta-feira, o Mágico🪄✨ regressa ao Estádio António Coimbra da Mota👏🏼⚽️ #JogaLimpo #JuntosPeloMágico #EstorilPraia #AquiNaoEsMaisUm pic.twitter.com/J1YDqxsz9Z— Estoril Praia SAD (@estorilpraiasad) December 12, 2022
Quinta-feira, o Mágico🪄✨ regressa ao Estádio António Coimbra da Mota👏🏼⚽️ #JogaLimpo #JuntosPeloMágico #EstorilPraia #AquiNaoEsMaisUm pic.twitter.com/J1YDqxsz9Z
The two sides met earlier this season in the Liga NOS with Estoril winning at home 2-0. It was their first win in three tries against Famalicao in all competitions.
Thursday’s match will be the third of the group stage for both clubs. Estoril are fourth in the five-team group, with Famalicao bringing up the bottom in fifth place.
Estoril took two points from their opening three cup group stage games. A nil-nil draw with Tondela was followed by a 3-2 loss to Academico Viseu. On matchday No 3, Estoril drew 2-2 with Torreeense.
Famalicao’s results mirrored Estoril in their opening three matches, The team drew 1-1 with Academico Viseu before losing 1-0 to group leader Torreense. A nil-nil draw with Tondela occurred in the team’s third game.
Both Estoril and Famalicao are separated from group leader Torreense by four points ahead of the game on Thursday. Famalicao are struggling for goals with just one in three games. However, they conceded just two times in three games.
Estoril conceded five times and scored four goals during their opening three games. The home side will fancy their chances of a win after posting a league victory over Famalicao earlier this campaign.
Famalicao are not a strong-scoring team in the league or the League Cup. The team is led in goals by Alex Millan and Zaydou Youssouf with two scores each in the league. Just 12 goals were scored by Famalicao in all competitions ahead of Thursday’s cup fixture with Estoril.
Estoril are led in goals by James Lea Siliki with three in the league. The team has 18 total goals this season in league and cup matches. Like Famalicao, Estoril are not a strong scoring team.
Famalicao scored just once in their opening three League Cup games and conceded twice. The visitors should keep this game low scoring as Estoril and Famalicao pick up their third draw in the League Cup, respectively. This game could be low scoring with under 0.5 goals.