Braga to Marítimo: three points cover six places
6th to 11th in Primeira Liga are separated by 3 points, with Braga on 11 and Marítimo on 8.
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Six places in Primeira Liga, 3 points between them. That is the width of the gap from Braga in 6th down to Marítimo in 11th, and it is the most compressed band in the table.
Braga sit on 11 points from 6 matches, with 3 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat. Their goal difference reads 2, built on 7 scored and 5 conceded.
Marítimo have played a game more and have less to show for it: 8 points, 2 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses. The goals tell the story harder than the points do. 8 scored, 12 conceded, a goal difference of -4.
Look at the recent runs. Braga have taken W, W, L, W and D across their last five, and are on a run of 1D. Marítimo have gone D, L, L, L, D, also 1D.
Which of those two records would you rather carry into October?
The splits sharpen it further. Braga have 7 home wins, 5 home draws and 1 home defeat, plus 6 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses on the road. Marítimo have 1 home win, 1 home draw and 1 home defeat, with 1 away win, 1 away draw and 2 away losses.
Above this band the picture is cleaner. Porto lead on 21 points at position 1 with a goal difference of +15. SL Benfica are second on 16, also at +15. Sporting CP and Santa Clara are level on 15, split by goal difference, +9 against +7. Arouca hold 5th on 11 and +3.
At the other end, Marítimo know exactly what a single win is worth here. So does everyone else in the band.
Primeira Liga returns on Friday 9 October, when Moreirense host Gil Vicente.