Two teams not far apart in the standings will go head to head this Sunday when Estrela Amadora welcome Estoril Praia to Estadio Jose Gomes for their 17th Primeira Liga game of the season.
Only one point separates the sides in the league table, with the hosts in 12th having collected 16 points from 16 games, while the Canaries sit just below them with the same number of matches played.
Match preview
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Estrela's recent 1-1 draw at AVS on December 28 saw an end to a curious pattern, as they had alternated between wins and losses in their previous six league games.
Building on their 1-0 triumph over Rio Ave the week before, the Tricolours looked set to break that trend in style, making a bright start with Leo Cordeiro opening the scoring in the eighth minute.
However, their lead lasted only seven minutes into the second half before Baptiste Roux equalised for the hosts, leaving Jose Faria's men with their first draw since a 2-2 stalemate against Vitoria Guimaraes in late October.
While they may have hoped for a better result at AVS, Estrela will take some encouragement from picking up their first point on the road since their opening day draw at Braga, though their away form remains a concern, with just two draws and six defeats in eight outings.
On home soil, it has been a different story for the Amadora-based outfit, who have won four of the last five league games on their turf.
This strong home record could prove useful when they face Estoril this weekend, particularly as they edged their visitors 2-1 in the only top-flight meeting between the sides at this ground, and they will be keen to replicate that result to secure another vital three points.
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Estoril, meanwhile, have found victories hard to come by of late, with their last success coming over a month ago in a 2-1 win against Famalicao on December 1.
Since then, Ian Cathro's side have gone four games without a win, suffering two defeats either side of 2-2 draws against Braga and Moreirense, with the latter being their most recent outing.
The Canaries showed character to fight back from an early setback in that match, overturning Gabrielzinho's opener through goals from Alejandro Marques and Helder Costa, only for Luis Asue to level the score in the 57th minute, leaving Estoril to settle for a draw that halted their losing streak.
As they head to Amadora, Canarinhos will be eager to end a winless run on the road, having failed to claim victory in seven such games, leaving them with the league's third worst away record, with just three draws to show for their efforts.
Their lack of cutting edge in the final third during those encounters has been a notable issue, with just four goals scored on their travels - the third fewest in the division, highlighting the challenge Cathro's men face as they look to turn their fortunes around.
Team News
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Estrela will take to the field without Tiago Mamede and Miguel Lopes, with both players sidelined through injury, while Alan Ruiz is suspended after reaching the yellow card threshold.
The 31-year-old midfielder is likely to be the only change from the starting XI that faced AVS, with Leonel Bucca expected to slot into a two-man midfield behind Kikas, who should continue to lead the line.
With Xeka and Pedro Amaral fully recovered, Estoril will have a complete squad available for Sunday's clash, giving manager Cathro a wealth of options to choose from.
The Scottish coach is expected to stick with his preferred 3-4-3 setup, featuring both scorers from the previous outing - Marques and Costa - alongside Joao Carvalho in attack.
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Brigido; Gabriel, Drame, Lima; Nilton, Jesus, Cordeiro, Veiga; Bucca, Luiz; Kikas
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Robles; Boma, Alvaro, Bacher; Pina, Zanocelo, Holsgrove, Garcia; Carvalho, Marques, Costa
We say: Estrela Amadora 2-0 Estoril Praia
Estrela have rediscovered their form on home turf, winning four of the last six matches in front of their fans and scoring at least twice in five of those encounters.
With the visitors struggling on their travels - failing to score in five of their seven league outings - keeping up with the hosts could prove a daunting task, making a home win the most likely outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
