Image: from FC One Football X @FCOneFootball
By Open Chronicle Sports Desk
Liga Portugal Betclic 2026/27 | Matchday 3 | 22 August 2026
Marítimo preserved their unbeaten start to the Liga Portugal season with a dramatic 2,2 draw against Académico de Viseu at the Estádio do Marítimo, recovering from a two goal deficit in the second half.
Académico appeared to be heading for one of the most impressive away victories of the early season after André Clóvis opened the scoring in the 25th minute and Soufiane Messeguem doubled the advantage in first half stoppage time.
Marítimo, however, responded after the interval. Paulo Henrique pulled one back in the 70th minute before Adrián Butzke converted an 88th minute penalty to complete the comeback and secure a point for the Madeira club.
Académico strike first
The visitors arrived in Madeira still searching for their first league victory after draws and defeats had marked their return to the top flight.
They made the stronger statement in the opening half.
André Clóvis broke the deadlock after 25 minutes, finishing to give Académico the lead. The visitors then produced another decisive moment just before the interval, with Soufiane Messeguem scoring in the 45+1st minute.
At half time, Marítimo were 2,0 behind at home.
For a side that had won its first two league matches, it was the first major test of adversity in the new campaign.
Académico, Penálti, André Ceitil, 85m
Penalty Marítimo. Adrián Butzke sofreu falta na área.#LigaPortugalBetclic #VSPORTSLPBETCLIC #EPOCA2627 #JORNADA3 #CSMAVFC #CSM #AVFC pic.twitter.com/mijITnCqCI
— VSPORTS ARCHIVE (@VsportsArchive) August 22, 2026
Marítimo refuse to surrender
Mitchell van der Gaag’s side emerged from the interval needing a response.
It eventually arrived through Paulo Henrique.
The Brazilian scored in the 70th minute, reducing the deficit to 2,1 and transforming the final phase of the match.
Marítimo increased the pressure and Académico were gradually pushed deeper.
The decisive incident came in the 85th minute when André Ceitil committed a foul inside the penalty area.
Adrián Butzke stepped forward.
The Spanish forward converted from the spot in the 88th minute to make it 2,2.
Full Time
Marítimo 2,2 Académico de Viseu
Goals
25′, André Clóvis, Académico de Viseu
45+1′, Soufiane Messeguem, Académico de Viseu
70′, Paulo Henrique, Marítimo
88′, Adrián Butzke, penalty, Marítimo
The match ended after seven minutes of added time.
A point that feels very different for each side
The final score was identical for both clubs.
The emotion attached to it was not.
Marítimo had been two goals behind and appeared close to losing their perfect start. Instead, they demonstrated the same resilience that had already helped them produce a stoppage time victory at Famalicão one week earlier.
Académico experienced the opposite feeling.
Bruno Pinheiro’s side had established a commanding advantage and were less than 20 minutes from an important away victory before allowing Marítimo back into the contest. After the match, the Académico coach described the result as two points lost, reflecting the frustration of surrendering such a strong position.
Marítimo remain unbeaten
The result moved Marítimo onto seven points from three matches.
Their opening sequence now reads:
Marítimo 1,0 Casa Pia
Famalicão 1,2 Marítimo
Marítimo 2,2 Académico de Viseu
That represents two victories, one draw and no defeats.
For a newly promoted side returning to Portugal’s top division, seven points from the opening nine available is a significant beginning.
The manner in which those points have been earned is equally notable.
Marítimo have already won a tight home contest, produced a stoppage time comeback away from home and now recovered from two goals down.
Académico continue to compete
Académico de Viseu’s return to the Liga Portugal has also produced signs that the promoted side can compete at this level.
Their season began with an impressive 2,2 draw against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz.
They then lost narrowly 1,0 against Santa Clara before travelling to Madeira and coming close to defeating another unbeaten opponent.
The four goals Académico have scored in three games illustrate that they are capable of creating problems for established top flight teams.
The challenge is now converting strong performances into victories.
The turning point
The match changed after Paulo Henrique’s goal.
Until the 70th minute, Académico had been protecting a two goal advantage.
Once Marítimo reduced the deficit, the atmosphere and momentum shifted.
The home side attacked with greater urgency and pushed Académico deeper.
The penalty in the closing minutes was therefore the culmination of sustained pressure rather than an isolated incident.
Butzke’s composure completed the comeback.
Matchday significance
The draw temporarily lifted Marítimo into the leading group of the championship.
They left the match with seven points, remaining unbeaten after three rounds.
For Académico, the result brought a second draw of the campaign and another demonstration that the newly promoted team can challenge established Liga Portugal opposition.
Neither side achieved everything it wanted.
Both, however, reinforced one of the early characteristics of the 2026/27 season.
Matches are proving difficult to control until the final whistle.
What comes next
Marítimo now prepare for an away meeting with FC Arouca in Matchday 4.
That fixture will provide another significant test against one of the strongest starters in the championship.
Académico return home to face FC Porto, giving the promoted side another opportunity to measure themselves against a title contender.
After three rounds, neither club has lacked difficult assignments.
And after this 2,2 draw in Madeira, neither can be accused of lacking resilience.