SportsMole previews Friday's Primeira Liga clash between Santa Clara and Gil Vicente, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Fresh from reaching the fourth round of Dhaka in Portugal, saint clear AND Gil Vicente Meet at the São Miguel Stadium on matchday nine of the Primeira Liga on Friday.
Oz Agora enters the weekend undefeated in its last six home games Bruno PinheiroThe men will look to extend this dominant streak starting in September 2015.
Competition Preview
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Santa Clara beat Gondomar of Campionado de Portugal 1-0 last Saturday on the third day of the Taca de Portugal.
Gondomar kept the home team in front of the Brazilian striker in a defensive display at the Estadio de São Miguel for most of the match. Gabriel Silva They broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute and forced a sharing of the spoils.
Santa Clara will look to build on last weekend's result as they now turn their attention to the Primeira Liga, where their two-game winning streak ended in a 1-0 defeat against Morientes just before the international break.
Despite his defeat against Morirens, the coach Vasco Matos He can be proud of his team's performance on their return to the big leagues, finishing first in the Second League last season.
Santa Clara has lost three of its eight Primeira Liga matches this season, winning five and collecting 15 points to occupy fourth place. In the classification, Sporting is only behind the 'big three' which are Lisbon, Porto and Benfica.
With their cup victory, Oz Akorianos have won four straight home games, including league victories over AVS, Estrella Amadora and Bovista, and have won seven of their last eight home games since the beginning of April.
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Like this weekend's hosts, Gil Vicente started their campaign in Portugal's Dhaka on a high, with a 2-0 win over Belenense at the weekend to book their place in the fourth round.
After a goalless first half at the Estadio do Restelo, Tour Didjane He was two minutes from the bell to surpass the previous audience. Jorge Aguirre A goal in the 65th minute doubled the lead.
It was a 3-0 victory over Estrella Amadora in the final before the international break Felix Correa, Kanya Fujimoto and Aguirre fell behind late to end their five-game unbeaten streak in the Primeira Liga.
Gil Vicente has achieved two wins and four draws in his eight league games to add 10 points out of a possible 24 and finish ninth in the standings, but a win this weekend could bring them level on points with seventh-placed Famalicao.
However, Pinheiro's men now travel to the Estadio de Sao Miguel, where they have failed to win any of their last six visits, losing five and drawing just one since a 2-0 victory in September 2015.
While Gil Vicente will look to end this dry spell, away results offer little hope as the Gilistas are winless in their last six away games in the Primeira Liga, losing three and drawing three since the victory. 1-0 in Morerens. On April 20.
Format of the First League of Santa Clara:
Santa Clara Format (All matches):
Gil Vicente Primeira League Format:
Gil Vicente's form (all matches):
Group messages
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Alison Saffira The Brazilian striker, who has missed Santa Clara's last two games due to a muscle problem and has started in the first seven league games, is a big doubt for this weekend.
The experienced defender is added to the injured list of Os Acorianos Pedro PachecoA serious knee injury sidelined him in May.
As for Gil Vicente, Pinheiro cannot count on the services of the 23-year-old midfielder. Facundo CasersHe has been out of action since re-injuring his meniscus in April.
south african international seek refuge He has missed each of the last five games since picking up an injury while on international duty against South Sudan in September, and the 25-year-old is also ruled out for this weekend's clash.
Possible starting lineup for Santa Clara:
Baptist; Venancio, Rocha, Lima; Kalila, Ferreira, Firmino, Nunes; Lopes, Silva, Pereira
Gil Vicente Possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Zé Carlos, Mananga, Fernández, Cruz; Fujimoto, García, Castillo; Mboula, Caue, Correia
We say: Santa Clara 2-1 Gil Vicente
Although Santa Clara started the campaign on a strong note, they will look to pick up where they left off in the Gil Vicente Cup and take advantage of their improved form.
However, Santa Clara looked solid at home and considering the Gilistas' form on their travels is nothing special at the moment, we are backing them to achieve the desired result.
Click here to see the data analysis of the most likely results, scores and more for this match.
