Nacional will aim to build on their recent success when they host resurgent Estoril Praia for round 22 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday evening.
The hosts are coming off a 2-0 victory over Farense on Sunday, a result that saw them steer further clear of the danger zone, while the Canaries have surged up the standings to eighth after winning each of their last five matches.
Match preview
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Having entered the encounter with Farense on the back of consecutive defeats to leaders Sporting Lisbon and Arouca, Nacional knew they needed a positive result to avoid another prolonged slump and maintain a safe distance from the drop.
In a fiercely contested relegation battle between two sides desperate for a turnaround, both teams saw red, but Jose Gomez's brace proved decisive as Alvinegros secured a hard-fought win despite having less possession (43%) and fewer attempts on goal (4) than their opponents' six.
With that result, Nacional have now recorded as many victories in their last five outings (three) as they managed in the previous 16, bringing their total tally to 22 from 21 games.
Now five points clear of the relegation playoff spot, the White and Blacks will look to build on this momentum, but they face a side they have struggled against at home in recent times, losing the last two meetings, with their most recent victory over Estoril coming in 2016, when they brushed aside the visitors 4-1.
This season, Nacional have collected 16 points from a possible 30 on their turf, ranking them 12th in the league's home standings — a decent return that should fuel their belief heading into this weekend's clash.
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Estoril, on the other hand, have been flawless in recent weeks, with a 2-1 victory over bottom-placed Boavista marking their fifth successive triumph.
Having claimed impressive away wins at Estrela Amadora and Santa Clara, edged past Vitoria de Guimaraes at home, and snatched a narrow triumph at Gil Vicente, Canarinhos entered their most recent outing brimming with confidence.
They wasted little time asserting dominance, as Yanis Begraoui broke the deadlock in the 27th minute before doubling his tally early in the second half, rendering Robert Bozenik's 61st-minute strike a mere consolation.
Since Estoril last dropped points in the league, only Braga have matched their perfect run of five consecutive wins, though the Archbishops' streak extends to six.
Ian Cathro will be particularly pleased with his side's transformation into one of the division's in-form teams, especially considering they had managed just three wins in their previous 16 league outings, failing to record victory in the final four of that stretch.
With 30 points from eight wins, six draws and seven defeats, Estoril find themselves straddling the line between danger and ambition — 13 points clear of the relegation playoff yet just as far from a Conference League place.
Looking to push further up the table, the visitors will aim to extend their flawless streak while securing their first top-flight double over Nacional, having claimed a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture in September.
Team News
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The hosts will be without long-term absentee Lucas Oliveira, who has yet to feature this season due to a muscle injury, while Miguel Baeza remains sidelined with a thigh issue that is expected to keep him out until later this month.
Fuki Yamada was one of two players sent off in Nacional's clash with Farense, and as a result, he will serve a suspension, making him unavailable for selection on Saturday.
On a positive note, the home side welcome back Ulisses Rocha and Luis Esteves after both missed the previous game due to accumulated yellow cards.
As for the visitors, 22-year-old defender Kevin Boma is ruled out after picking up one too many cautions in his last outing, with veteran Eliaquim Mangala likely to step in to fill the void.
Beyond that, the Canarinhos head into the weekend with a clean bill of health, giving Cathro the luxury of a near full-strength squad, with Begraoui — who has scored five goals in his last five matches — set to lead the line once again.
Nacional possible starting lineup:
Franca; Garcia, Santos, Ze Vitor, Gomes; Soumare, Dias; Boia, Sousa, Isaac; Tagueu
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Robles; Mangala, Alvaro, Bacher; Pina, Xeka, Holsgrove, Amaral; Guitane, Carvalho, Begraoui
We say: Nacional 1-2 Estoril Praia
While both sides come into this clash on a high after winning their previous matches, Estoril are favoured to prevail, given their blistering run of five consecutive victories.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
