- CF Os Belenenses have won three of their last five games in all competitions.
- CF Os Belenenses have won both of the last two meetings, including a 2-0 home win against Santarem nine months ago.
Belenenses can beat a better team
CF Os Belenenses have a strong chance of taking all three points when they face off against Santarem in Lisbon on Sunday. Second-placed Belenenses have made a good start to their Liga 3, Group B campaign with 16 points taken from eight matches while eighth-placed Santarem have collected eight points from eight matches.
Our CF Os Belenenses vs Santarem prediction is that Joao Vilela has done a great job since taking over in January 2025 and Belenenses are now playing a highly-disciplined, possession-based 4-3-3 system that can change the game with pace and rotation in wide areas. They also have some bite in Eduardo Souza, who has two in his last five matches for the club, and David Rebelo, who is good for a goal, with two in eight league appearances from the front.
Santarem are a compact, pragmatic 4-2-3-1 team and will look to sit deep and hit on the counter-attack or from set pieces rather than try to control the ball. Carlos Fernandes has been in charge of the team since December 2023 and has created a team that is organised and can punish the weak and the stupid.
Belenenses odds are skinny
Belenenses are as short as 1.47 for this game with the visitors at 6.76 and the draw at 3.7, so there’s no value in the match result markets. The CF Os Belenenses vs Santarem betting tips for this clash recommend Under 2.5 goals at 1.75 as the best way to go, as both Teams To Score is listed at 1.67, which would normally be fair odds for a Liga 3 match, but given Belenenses have only conceded two in their four home Liga 3 games.
Santarem will park the bus and it is up to Belenenses to find a way to break through this low block. This won’t be an open game. Our CF Os Belenenses vs Santarem prediction is that Belenenses will win it but Santarem have enough structure to keep it close, so Under 2.5 looks a decent play here.
Santeram are not a big threat
Eberth Nogueira will be Santarem’s main man up front; he has scored two in his four Liga 3 appearances and will be the focal point on counters.
Santarem have never won away at Belenenses and their recent form has been mixed. They have won one and lost three of their last five matches, but they have a poor record against their hosts and lost 1-2 at home to CD Mafra in their most recent game.
This CF Os Belenenses vs Santarem preview highlights that CF Os Belenenses have won both of the previous meetings between these clubs, including a 2-0 win at their ground nine months ago, and they are worth supporting to continue the trend with another clean-sheet victory.
