Bitesize Prediction: Guimaraes vs Penafiel – 11/01/24

Competition: Taca de Portugal

Market: Guimaraes win

Odds: 2/5 @ BetUS

Looking to extend on their Taca de Portugal adventure on Thursday evening, Guimaraes will welcome second-tier outfit Penafiel to town.

Starting with the hosts, while Guimaraes might have eventually missed out on the chance to book a famous European return last season, Alvaro Pacheco’s men are enjoying another Primeira Liga flurry this time around. Opening the New Year with a gritty display as they snatched a 1-1 stalemate away at Braga, the former Estoril boss has seen his squad gain a string of plaudits. Signing off 2023 with a 1-0 victory against Rio Ave, the Conquerors should be dreaming of the chance to mount a genuine Taca de Portugal charge this year. In fact, Guimaraes are unbeaten in all of their previous six straight domestic appearances across all competitions – a run that stems all the way back to November 11th – Pacheco’s side should be smelling a golden opportunity here. It should also be highlighted, the European dreamers have won five of their last six showdowns in front of their own supporters.

As for the visitors, although Penafiel might have turned a recent corner over the past few weeks, Helder’s side will be bracing themselves for a major challenge on Thursday evening. Still firmly looking over their shoulder at a looming relegation scrap and holding just a one-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone, the Reds have continued to show some rather glaring issues on the road. In fact, yet to record a single victory away from the Estadio Municipal this season, Penafiel have remarkably not claimed a sole second-tier win on their travels over the past 11 months. Rightfully tipped as a landslide underdog in midweek, Helder’s side will be concerned by their most recent trip to Guimaraes. Slumping to a routine 3-1 loss when they travelled to the Primeira Liga outfit for a friendly showdown in 2018, we are expecting a similar outcome here.

Bet: Guimaraes 2/5 to beat Penafiel in Thursday’s Taca de Portugal showdown @ BetUS