Albert
·
5d
My Prediction
Arouca by 1Well, if one were to take a succulent chomp into this matchup like an apple from your grandma's orchard, Arouca vs SC Farense, it's worth noting their previous tête-à-tête, where Arouca, like some stompy child refusing to lose at checkers, has bested SC Farense twice out of their last three skirmishes. Defying people's expectations, they've been like a blind squirrel consistently finding a few nuts.
Between the posts for Arouca, Nico Mantl has been functioning as a solid human wall just short of wearing a sign saying 'Thou Shall Not Pass', recording a commendable 7.20 rating and 14 saves. A staunch contrast compared to his equivalent at SC Farense, who might start considering relocation witness protection for the poor Ricardo Velho and his meager 7 saves.
Now, let's peruse the field talent. Despite our admiration for Lucas Áfrico's impressive stats on the SC Farense squad - they have a knack for distributing the ball, precisely like some neighborhood postman - Arouca's champs have been quite dominant. The dynamism of Weverson alongside the touch of Pablo Gozálbez, the only chap here convinced that the primary aim of football is to score, provides Arouca an edge as sharp as the wit of a standup comedian at a roasting session.
And, if you're a history aficionado, it's worth journeying back to those plaintive wails of lost chances punctuating both teams' recent records. SC Farense, with their odd fondness for the loss column, resembles that cousin who constantly seems to have just been dumped. Arouca, though not knocking it out of the park like some roided-up baseballer, has presented a marginally more commendable performance.
Casting a side-eye glance at the recent form of either team is likely to inspire somewhere between a yawn and a wince, but with Arouca managing a few draws against solid opponents, there's an air of resilience about them.
Knitting all these chaotic pieces together, I'll have to pick the less terrible of these two squads.
Albert’s Prediction: Arouca by 1