Round 26… Fight!

By: Greg | April 20th, 2007

Sorry, I know it’s a really cheap Mortal Kombat reference but constantly saying “Jornada #X Preview” gets boring after doing 3 or 4 of these.

The game of the week is clearly Porto v Belenenses. Porto will have home pitch advantage playing at the Dragao but Belenenses is riding a smoking hot six game win streak where striker Dady has scored in each of the victories. Porto have had an entire week to rest while Belenenses played an extra time Taça de Portugal game just last night. The game is on Sunday which will give Belenenses SOME semblance of rest. However, Porto’s class, home pitch advantage and the inevitable wear on the visiting squad should tip the scales in Porto’s favor (which means, given my recent history of predictions, that Belenenses will win).

Last week’s format was met with approval from The Offsides Grand Poobah, an enigmatic figure shrouded in mystery and known only as “Bob.” Therefore, I’ll continue to give the fun team facts along with the fixtures. Maybe I’ll create some sort of new age fusion title and start calling it Fixturefacts. Or not… Man, thank GOD it’s Friday…

Friday April 20th: Boavista (aka As Panteras) at E.d.Amadora (who inverted the Italian flag and came up with their home kit colors)

Saturday April 21: Benfica (”stole” their mascot and motto from the almighty dollar) at Maritimo (biggest rivals are Nacional)

Sunday April 22: Paços de Ferreira (manager Jose Mota) at Aves (pronounced Ahh-ves)

Sunday April 22: Belenenses (Founded in 1919) at FC Porto (have had five different managers since Jose Mourinho left in 2004)

Sunday April 22: Nacional (got to the 2nd round of the UEFA Cup this year, the farthest ever in team history) at U.d.Leiria (play at Estadio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, which was built for the 2004 Euro)

Sunday April 22: Naval (only their second year ever in the Liga) at Sporting (where Crissy learned to dance)

Monday April 23: Academica (won the inaugural Taça de Portugal waaaay back in 1938/39) at Beira Mar (Eusebio played one season for them in 1977/78)

Sunday April 23: Setubal (Currently ranked 133rd in the world) at Braga (crashed out of this year’s Taça de Portugal yesterday v Belenenses)

This weekend I’m going to be ~~having fun~~, ~~running around~~, pulling my hair out by Sunday with getting everything ready for my wedding / elopement in late May. Therefore, don’t expect much out of me until Monday. Besides, I gave you two posts today. Isn’t that enough you greedy jerks!?