Portuguese Cup: Arouca's X-ray

Arouca visits Benfica to play the 4th round of the Portuguese Cup. Ahead of the match, scheduled for 8:45 pm on Thursday, the Official Site tells you a little bit more about the opponent that competes in the II Division (Ledman LigaPro).

For 2018/19 there were several changes in the squad – 16 players in and 19 out – and the team under Quim Machado (he replaced Miguel Leal) is in the 13th place of the II Division (Ledman LigaPro), with 10 points (three wins, one draw and five losses). In all the official competitions, the team has racked up five wins in 13 matches, 15 goals scored and 15 goals conceded.

In the Portuguese Cup, Arouca won both matches played: 0-1 against Caçadores das Taipas (2nd round) and 1-3 against Farense (3rd round).

In Ledman LigaPro, the journey began with a 1-2 win away at Penafiel. That was followed by four losses: 1-2 at home against Benfica B, 3-2 away at Ac. Viseu, 2-0 away at Famalicão and, finally, 0-2 at home against SC Braga B.

The victories returned in October in the trip to FC Porto B: 0-1. Malele scored the solitary goal of the match. In the following round, the team drew at home against Mafra (2-2), lost in the trio to Cova da Piedade's home ground by 1-0, and won in the home match against Leixões by 2-0 in the last match before the clash with the reds.

In the last starting XI, Quim Machado fielded the team in 4x3x3, with six new signings: Rui Vieira; Deyvison, Victor Massaia, Kiko, Thales; Soares, Didi, Ericson; Adílio, Fábio Fortes and André Bukia. The goals were scored by Victor Massaia and André Bukia.

The most used starting lineup has been implemented in 4x3x3, but with some changes compared with the team that started the match against Leixões: Rui Vieira; Deyvison, Victor Massaia, Sánchez Costa, Thales; Soares, Ericson, Bruno Alves; Adílio, Malele, and Fábio Fortes.

A centre-back as top goalscorer

With four goals in 12 official matches, the team's top goalscorer is a centre-back. The Brazilian Victor Massaia tops the list, closely followed by André Bukia e Malele, footballer that usually play in Arouca's attacking trio, both with three. Adílio, with two goals scored, rounds off this top.

Transfers at Arouca

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: FC Arouca