Angolan Girabola League football: everything you need to know

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Onze Bravos v Petro Atletico and Ferroviario do Huambo v Progresso in the Angolan Girabola.

Best bets

Petro Atletico
1pt 5-4 bet365
Back this tip with bet365
Progresso
1pt 10-3

Where in the world is it and what tier of football?

The Girabola – comprising of 15 teams - is the top level of Angolan football.

Petro Atletico, from the capital city Luanda, have been the most successful team, winning 15 league titles. City rivals Primeiro de Agosto have won 13 times, including in each of the last four seasons.

What's happened so far this season?

It is shaping up as a two-horse race between leaders Petro Atletico and second-placed Primeiro de Agosto, who are both on 51 points.

Third-placed Onze Bravos are 11 points off the pace but have played one game fewer than the top two.

This weekend's matches will be played behind closed doors following an announcement on Wednesday by the Angolan Football Federation.

Are there any trends to follow?

Table-toppers Petro Atletico have gone nine games since their last away league defeat.

Primeiro de Agosto are the division's top scorers with 42 goals and third-bottom Ferroviario do Huambo have collected 19 points from 22 games despite scoring just nine goals, the fewest in the division.

Any famous faces?

Angolan international striker Mabululu topped the division's scoring charts last season with 14 goals. He has featured 13 times for his national team, scoring five goals.

Sagrada Esperanca forward Daddy Birori was born in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, but was granted Rwandan citizenship and has made 19 appearances for his adopted nation, scoring six goals.

Give us a fun fact

Kabuscorp finished fourth last season but were relegated after failing to meet a deadline relating to the payment of wages to Rivaldo, one of their former players.

The Brazilian legend featured 21 times for Kabuscorp in the 2012 season, scoring 11 goals.

Match preview

Leaders Petro Atletico are unbeaten in their last nine away fixtures and look a solid odds-against wager to defeat third-placed Onze Bravos at Estadio Mundunduleno.

Onze Bravos, from Luena in eastern Angola, are on course for a big improvement on last season's tenth-place finish.

But they lost 3-1 away to title-chasing Primeiro de Agosto last Saturday and their chances of beating Petro Atletico are probably reduced by the game having to take place behind closed doors.

Petro Atletico's title hopes have been damaged by their most recent results – a 1-0 loss at home to Desportivo Huila and a 2-2 draw at home to Interclube – but they are still in control of their destiny.

Their remaining five matches include next month's home clash against Primeiro de Agosto which looks a likely title-decider.

If Toni Cosano's side can win them all they will regain the championship for the first time since 2009.

Towards the other end of the table fourth-bottom Progresso look overpriced to win away to third-bottom Ferroviario do Huambo.

Capital club Progresso were 1-0 winners at home to fifth-placed Sagrada Esperanca last Sunday, lifting them four points above the drop zone.

They have a decent chance to follow up with another three points against Ferroviario do Huambo, who have won just one of their last eight matches.

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