Estoril Praia vs Sheffield United predictions for this friendly pre-season game that will be played on Wednesday evening. The Blades continue their preparation with a trip to Portugal. Read on for all our free betting tips and predictions.
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Match Live Wednesday, 19h July at 7:30 pm In:
Estoril Praia vs Sheffield United Predictions
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A Pre-Season Battle for Momentum
Key Stats
– Estoril Praia displayed a late-season surge last year, amassing 10 points from their final five matches.
– Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie was instrumental in their promotion-winning campaign, scoring crucial goals in decisive games.
On Wednesday, the focus turns to Sheffield United as they forge ahead with their preparations for the forthcoming Premier League season, facing off against Estoril Praia from Portugal’s top-tier, Primeira Liga.
Sheffield United’s Pre-Season Optimism
The English side embarked on a journey abroad on Sunday, landing in Portugal for a rigorous training camp. Having already earned a commendable victory over Chesterfield at the weekend, the Blades are poised to continue their positive pre-season trajectory. Paul Heckingbottom, in his inaugural full season as the manager, proved his mettle by guiding Sheffield to an impressive second place in the Championship. A solid campaign saw the Blades seal automatic promotion, following 28 wins out of 46 outings and accumulating a total of 91 points.
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Their ascendancy to the Premier League was confirmed with a crucial 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion in late April, and the team concluded their triumphant campaign with a 2-1 win at Birmingham City. Celebrations aside, Sheffield United promptly returned to the grind in July, winning their first friendly against Chesterfield 2-0, showcasing their readiness for the top flight. As they prepare for their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace, Sheffield United are expected to capitalise on their current momentum with a win against Estoril Praia.
Estoril Praia’s Rebuilding Phase
In contrast, Estoril Praia entered the pre-season on the heels of a demanding Primeira Liga campaign, where they managed to secure 14th place with a total of 35 points from 34 matches. While they finished the season comfortably above the bottom three, it was only made possible by a robust finale to the season, marked by three victories and a total of 10 points from their last five matches. These included a striking 3-1 win over Maritimo in late May.
Estoril’s pre-season began with a match against Belenenses, where they emerged victorious. With the Taca da Liga first-leg tie against Pacos de Ferreira fast approaching, Estoril will undoubtedly view the upcoming clash with Sheffield United as a valuable warm-up exercise.
Shuffled Squads and Tactics
Both teams have seen their squad composition evolve over the summer, with Sheffield United bidding farewell to stalwarts Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens, and Billy Sharp. However, they’ve welcomed Yasser Larouci and Anis Slimane, both of whom should feature prominently in the encounter with Estoril. They are expected to join the likes of John Fleck, Ben Osborn, Oliver Norwood, and Sander Berge in the engine room, while Oli McBurnie, who scored in the decisive match against Birmingham, will likely spearhead the attack.
For Estoril Praia, departures of crucial players such as Tiago Santos, Lucas Africo, Chico Geraldes, and Andre Clovis have been noted. While new signing Heri Tavares will likely fortify the right wing, the offensive void left by joint-top scorers Tiago Gouveia and Alejandro Marques might fall on the shoulders of forward Cassiano.
Predictions
As the showdown between Sheffield United and Estoril Praia looms, we delve into potential predictions for the match.
- Match Outcome Prediction (Market: Win-Draw-Away) – Considering the momentum of Sheffield United, a victory for the English side is probable. Although Estoril have shown strength in their pre-season form, the Blades’ recent Championship performance and their superior squad depth should see them triumph in this contest.
- Correct Score Prediction – Sheffield United have shown consistent defensive stability throughout their last season, and this trend is expected to continue yet they might concede something considering they are still not in top form. Therefore, a 2-1 victory in favour of Sheffield United could be the most likely outcome.
- Goalscorer Prediction – With recent form taken into account, Oli McBurnie, who proved to be a key asset in Sheffield United’s last season’s success, could be the man to find the net at least once in this friendly encounter.
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