Liga NOS: X-ray from Belenenses SAD

It is a practically renewed Belenenses SAD that will host Benfica at the Estádio do Jamor, at 8:30 pm on Saturday, in matchday 8 of the Liga NOS.

Belenenses SAD has only racked up one victory in the Liga NOS and a total of three in the official competitions.

The last triumph in the Championship occurred in the opening round, away at Tondela (0-1). Fredy scored the winner at 54’. In matchday 2, the team’s first match at Estádio do Jamor, FC Porto beat Belenenses SAD by 2-3. Porto got a 0-2 lead, but the home team replied with goals from Fredy and Keita in the second half. In added time, Porto got the three points through a penalty kick.

Still in the Liga NOS, that result was followed by three draws, with Moreirense (1-1), V. Setúbal and Marítimo, both 0-0. Again at Jamor, SC Braga beat Benfica’s opponent in matchday 8 by 0-3. Belenenses drew again away at Santa Maria da Feira.

In between, Belenenses SAD played for the League Cup and for the Portuguese Cup. In July, they began by eliminating Oliveirense in the 2^nd stage after winning by 3-1. Fredy (2) and Keita scored the goals. Inserted in Group C, the men under Silas lost against Varzim, away, by 2-1. In the 3rd round of the Portuguese Cup, Belenenses SAD traveled to Amora and won by 3-4 after extra-time.

Several new signings in an eleven in 4x3x3

Starting by the standard starting eleven, the most used this season, e closer to the one that will face Benfica at 8:30 pm on Saturday, Belenenses SAD puts six new signings in the starting XI (highlighted in bold): Muriel; Sagna, Gonçalo Silva, Sasso, Zakarya; Nuno Coelho, Jonatan Lucca, Dálcio; Licá, Fredy and Keita.

In that last match and because it was for a competition other than the Liga NOS, the coach from the Blues made several changes in the squad and started the match with: Mika; Sagna, Sasso, Gonçalo Silva, Nuno Tomás, Zakarya; Eduardo Henrique, André Santos, Ljujic; Licá and Kikas. During the encounter, the new signings Jonatan Lucca, Dramé and Keita came on.

What do the numbers tell

Silas prefers a team that is not afraid of having the ball possession and building plays from the defense. This positive football has its risks. Belenenses SAD loses, on average, 107 balls per match, according to the data from Wyscout.

Set in 4x3x3, the team plays with the lines very close and favors the central zone of the pitch to build up plays, with special emphasis to the centre-backs and the midfielders Nuno Coelho, Lucca, and Dálcio. That explains the scarce 17 crosses per match against the 22 crosses from the opponents. Comfortable bossing the match, the role of Belenenses SAD has a ball possession average of around 56%, and even against FC Porto had more ball possession (53% against 47%).

The men under Silas deliver around 450 passes per game, un efficacy of 83%.

Belenenses SAD, with four goals in the Portuguese League, has an average of fewer than 10 shots per match. On the other hand, in seven rounds Jorge Silas’ team conceded seven goals.

Transfers at Belenenses SAD

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Liga Portugal