With just three games of the Portuguese Primeira Liga remaining, the battle to avoid relegation to the second tier is hotting up. Monday night’s clash between 17th place CD Aves and 18th place Estoril could have a big bearing on who survives the drop.
Aves head into this game just one point from safety, after a run of five defeats in their last six outings in the Primeira Liga. A 3-0 defeat at mid-table Tondela last time out did not help the home sides cause either.
Conceding goals has been Aves’ main problem of late in the Portuguese top-flight, as Jose Mota’s team have conceded at least two goals in five of their last six league outings.
Aves have been inconsistent on home soil in the Portuguese top-flight, but have won three of their last five home games in the Primeira Liga, suffering just one defeat in the process.
Estoril are rock bottom of the Portuguese top-flight table. Even a victory in this clash would not be enough to move the visitors out of the relegation zone. However, they would move level on points with the likes of Vitoria Setubal and Pacos de Ferreira in the table.
A run of just one win in their last ten games has been a big factor in the team’s current perilous position in the table. In fact, Ivo Vieira’s side has suffered seven defeats in those aforementioned ten games.
Last time out Estoril suffered a 2-1 home defeat against Benfica. The game ended a run of low scoring games, as their previous five games had produced under 2.5 goals.
The visitors have a poor recent away record in the Primeira Liga, winning just two of their last 13 league outings on their travels.
This game is a vital one for both sides, but Forebet predicts that the visitors will record a vital victory in a low-scoring game.