Vitória SC vs FC Arouca

Vitória Guimarães and Arouca kick off the new Primeira Liga campaign level on points from last term, with both sides finishing on 42 — Arouca just edging ahead to claim eighth spot, one place above their hosts. It's an ideal chance for either club to set an early tone at the Estádio Dom Afonso Henriques. Vitória Guimarães limped out of last season with three straight defeats, but new boss Tiago Margarido has overseen a promising pre-season, winning five of seven friendlies, and will lean on Alioune Ndoye to lead the attack. Arouca struggled for results in the summer, winning just once in five outings, yet they finished 2025/26 unbeaten in three, with Ivan Barbero their most reliable source of goals. History slightly favours the visitors' confidence: Arouca are unbeaten in their last three meetings with Guimarães, even though the hosts hold a 10-5 edge across 23 all-time clashes, and goals have flowed freely between these two. Our prediction: 2-1