Alverca v Santa Clara: mid-table buffer meets survival fight | OneFootball

Alverca host Santa Clara in Liga Portugal on Saturday, 21 February 2026 at the Complexo Desportivo FC Alverca in Alverca do Ribatejo, with the hosts chasing breathing room in mid-table and the visitors trying to climb away from the relegation play-off place.

Santa Clara won the reverse fixture 2-1, so Alverca have a chance to level the head-to-head this season while keeping a direct rival at arm's length.

Recent form points in opposite directions. Alverca have one win in five league games but took a draw at Tondela last time out after narrowly losing at Benfica. Santa Clara arrive on a five-match league losing run, including a 2-1 home defeat to Benfica.

Routes to goal could hinge on wide supply and penalty decisions. Alverca have attempted 232 open-play crosses with 22.84% accuracy, while Santa Clara have delivered 272 at 20.59%. Set pieces have not been a major source for either side this season. In the box, Alverca have been awarded seven penalties, converting 57.1%, while Santa Clara are perfect from five. Up front, Marko Milovanovic leads Alverca with six league goals, and Vinicius tops Santa Clara with five (per the league's scorer chart).

Alverca sit 10th on 25 points and a win would take them to 28, strengthening their mid-table position. Santa Clara are 16th on 17 points; victory would lift them to 20 and could draw them level with 15th-placed Rio Ave, boosting their survival bid.