Liga NOS: X-ray of Feirense

Benfica will play against Feirense, at Estádio da Luz, at 6 pm on Saturday, December 1, in matchday 11 of the Liga NOS. The men under Nuno Manta come from an away win at Marítimo (0-3), in the Portuguese Cup.

Feirense's start of the 2018/19 season was auspicious. Apart from securing the access to the League Cup group stage after beating Leixões (3-2), the team started the Liga Nos with consecutive wins: 2-0 against Rio Ave and 0-1, in Minho, against V. Guimarães.

However, the scenario changed. The team did not win again in the Championship, it suffered four losses in the last five games; 

After Guimarães, Feirense got a 1-all draw against Boavista, at Estádio Marcolino de Castro, and lost at Alvalade against Sporting by 1-0. Next came two scoreless draws at home against Nacional and Belenenses SAD; in between, the squad lost 1-0, away from home, against Moreirense.

The last three matches in the Liga NOS resulted in losses. 2-0, at Estádio do Dragão against FC Porto; 2-4 at home against Tondela; 2-1 at Bonfim against V. Setúbal.

In between, the team achieved positive results in the League Cup and in the Portuguese Cup, competitions in which it is at the top spot of Group D and in the eighth-finals, respectively.

The last match before the trip to Luz was for the Portuguese Cup against Marítimo. The coach, Nuno Manta, built the team in 4x3x3, with the following starting XI: Bruno Brígido; Edson Farias, Briseño, Bruno Nascimento, Tiago Gomes; Babanco, Cris Santos, Tiago Silva; Sturgeon, Luís Machado, and João Silva.

Adding all official competitions, Feirense has racked up seven wins in 15 matches; it got three draws and suffered five losses. The team scored 20 goals and conceded 17.

Defensive consistency put to the test

Strong in the defensive duels and in the interceptions, Feirense is also a team that allows few attempts from the opponents. The club from Santa Maria da Feira carries out, on average, 75 duels per game and performs 43 interceptions. The defensive strength is also visible in the fact the team carries out fewer fouls (16 per match) than the direct opponent (19).

In the offensive aspect, Feirense, on average, shoots around nine times per encounter and hits the target 31% of the times; it carries out 285 passes per game (75% efficacy) and has 46% ball possession.

Transfers at Feirense

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Liga Portugal