Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Braga on Sunday knowing that three points are realistically required to have any chance of a top-four finish in the Primeira Liga table.
At a time when the home side sit in seventh position, the visitors are in that aforementioned fourth, just four points adrift of second spot.
Match preview
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While Guimaraes' hot start to the season has always kept them in contention in the upper echelons of this division, it has taken four points from their last two fixtures to keep them as high as seventh.
A 2-0 victory over AVS was followed by a goalless draw at Famalicao, Luis Freire hoping that it will kick-start his time in charge of the club.
In the long run, though, this is a team that has recorded just three wins from their last 16 league fixtures, all of which have come at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques.
That said, it should be highlighted that six draws have come from eight games, while only one defeat - to Porto in September - has been posted at their home ground in the Primeira Liga.
Now sitting eight points adrift of Santa Clara, who are fifth, this feels like a potentially-pivotal game when Braga have the chance to surge further clear in the race for the top four.
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Aside from an indifferent November and December, Braga can be satisfied with their campaign thus far, particularly when they remain in close proximity to second place.
Nevertheless, Carlos Carvalhal's side have really come into their own of late, recording five successive wins in Portugal's top flight including a triumph at Benfica.
Although only 10 goals have been scored during that time, it shows that they are doing professional jobs on teams, but the most remarkable statistic is their six consecutive wins on away territory.
A total of eight victories and just one defeat have come from their 10 away encounters in 2024-25, conceding just five times, and Carvalhal will expect that record to be extended on Sunday.
Team News
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Barring any fitness issues, there is little reason for Freire to tinker with a Guimaraes side that have kept two clean sheets in a row.
Chuchu Ramirez is an option to come back into the team in attack as a replacement for Nelson Oliveira, who has not scored since the start of December.
Wide player Umaro Embalo is also pushing for his first start having spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Fortuna Sittard.
Meanwhile, Fran Navarro should retain his place in the Braga final third, the Porto loanee having scored three times in five games since his January arrival.
Gabri Martinez could be introduced on the left flank, but Carvalhal may plausibly select the same starting lineup from the win over Gil Vicente.
Young winger Roger Fernandes is a certain starter on the right courtesy of his double in that encounter.
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Maga, Borevkovic, Villanueva, Mendes; Handel, Silva; Arcanjo, Samu, Santos; Oliveira
Braga possible starting lineup:
Hornicek; Ferreira, Oliveira, Arrey-Mbi, Chissumba; Moutinho, Gorby; Fernandes, Horta, Gharbi; Navarro
We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 1-2 Braga
Although Guimaraes have started to get back on track, they are facing a relentless Braga outfit who are the joint-standout team on current form. With that in mind, we are backing Carvalhal's side to edge this contest by the odd goal in three.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
