Pacos Ferreira vs Porto, Saturday 23rd August 2014 Betting Preview

Will Porto be able to hang onto their prized asset?

Lewis Watson is back to preview two games being streamed live on Betfair Live Video this weekend. This Saturday's pick comes from Sweden and Portugal...

Malmo vs Norrkoping
Saturday 15:00

With strugglers Norrkoping making the trip to the Swedbank Stadion on Saturday afternoon, league leaders Malmo may use this match as a chance to make use of the depth within their squad. With a return leg against Salzburg in the Champions League qualification stages coming up on Wednesday, Age Hareide would be excused for fielding a weaker side considering their seven-point Allsvenskan lead...

So with ten match-days remaining in Sweden, Malmo look on course to win back-to-back league titles for the first time since the mid-seventies. Sitting seven clear of an unconvincing AIK, 'Di blae' have reaped the rewards of the best defence in the league, suffering only one defeat to their name in twenty outings. 

After struggling for two goalless seasons at West Brom, 31-year-old Markus Rosenberg has looked reborn in the 'slightly' less challenging Allsvenskan. Netting ten times in eighteen appearances, the former Bundesliga stalwart finds himself leading an impressive Malmo line, with adequate support from a very capable midfield duo of Forsberg and Halsti.

After suffering a 2-1 away defeat to Salzburg on Tuesday night, confidence will be high that they can reverse the result on Wednesday night as they host the Austrian champions. After a last minute goal from Forsberg in stoppage time, a 1-0 win would be good enough to see them sneak into the group stages. However, with league matters to take care of before then, Hareide will be focused on the job in hand against a downbeat and out of form Norrkoping...

Escaping trouble with a ninth placed finish last campaign, Norrkoping boss Jan Andersson will know all too well the fine line they are treading at the moment in the basement of the Allsvenskan. Without a win in their last five outings, 'Kamraterna' find themselves just three clear of a Mjallby side who have managed to pick up points in previous weeks where Norrkoping have struggled. 

Although they currently sit in a relegation playoff spot, the visitors will take confidence out of the swarm of sides hovering above them on 22 and 23 points respectively. Granted, a trip to the league leaders at this stage of the campaign isn't ideal, but with one win capable of catapulting them up to as high as eighth spot, it's clear that this relegation race will go to the bitter end of this campaign with drama guaranteed. 

Boasting the second worst attack in the league, fingers would usually be pointed towards the strike force. However, with thirteen goals between Nyman, Kamara and Kujovic, the baron Norrkoping midfield will have to take the majority of the stick, having struggled to contribute to the goal tally all campaign. 

Despite fielding a weaker side, expect the league leaders to impress on Saturday, winning by at least two clear goals. 

Recommended Bets:
Back Malmo to win @ 1.594/7
Back Malmo to win 3-0 @ 14.013/1

Pacos Ferreira vs Porto
Saturday 18:00

It's the return of the Primeira Liga, and after relinquishing their league title to an impressive Benfica last season; Porto will be back looking to claim their eighth title in the last ten years...

With Porto's revolving door policy in full use over the summer, new coach Julen Lopetegui has a new squad on his hands as he looks for glory in his debut season. After letting players such as Mangala, Iturbe, Fernando, Defour and Castro leave for a healthy sum; the Porto boss has acquired a competent selection of talent to replace last year's faltering squad. 

Adrian from Atletico, Bruno Martins Indi from Feyenoord and Tello from Barcelona are the notable new faces at the Estadio do Dragao, and with Lopetegui's business still not complete, Porto are sure to challenge once again for Portuguese glory.

With a comfortable opening day victory against Maritimo under their belt, the immediate return to form from Jackson Martinez will be the biggest relief for the Porto faithful. After a disappointing World Cup to his standards, the Colombian striker will be looking to score twenty or more goals for the fourth consecutive league season, and is still no doubt the main attraction in the league - so much so he has recieved quite serious attention from AC Milan in this transfer window.

After plummeting to fifteenth spot after their miraculous 2012-13 season, new boss Paulo Fonseca will be looking to get the Pacos train back on track as they look to tussle with the big boys again. 

With a third place finish coupled with a semi-final cup appearance in 2013, Pacos have struggled to keep afloat in an ever changing Primeira Liga. Surviving the relegation play-off last campaign, Fonseca's immediate target will be to keep his side in the top tier of Portuguese football.

Without much movement in the transfer window so far, Pacos may find themselves struggling in the final third with the notable lack of a marksman. With a mismatch of in-experienced and out of form strikers leading their line, a fifteen goal a season striker should really be the priority on Fonseca's shopping list.

Recommended Bets:
Back Porto to win @ 1.412/5
Back Porto to win 2-1 @ 9.08/1