Aguias Santas and Belenenses shared the points in their Andebol 1 opener, with the hosts edging the scoreboard 31:28. It was a draw that settled the first round, though neither side could claim a comfortable victory. By then you can see it was always going to be close from the start.
The hosts have now moved to 12th place on a single point after one game, while Belenenses sit sixth with three points from their opening win. The gap between them isn't huge, but it shows where the table already stands after just one matchday.
We had called a home win going into this fixture, 53 per cent confidence, and it held up. Aguias Santas found a way through when it mattered, holding on after Belenenses pushed back in the second half. The prediction worked because the hosts have been competitive at home recently, even if results have been mixed.
Looking at the recent form, Aguias Santas have drawn twice and lost three times in their last five outings, including a heavy 23:34 defeat to Benfica. Belenenses, meanwhile, secured their first win of the season with a 27:24 victory over Vitoria, ending a run of losses and draws.
The final scoreline suggests a game that could have gone either way, with both sides trading blows throughout. It isn't much to go on from one match, but the result sets a tone for what might come next in the league.