Two teams with contrasting fortunes in recent weeks face off on Saturday as Nacional welcome Famalicao for round 24 of the Primeira Liga.
The hosts will be eager to halt a two-match winless run, while the in-form visitors seek to stretch their unbeaten streak to five matches and secure a third consecutive victory.
Match preview
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After failing to capitalise on their impressive victory at SC Farense by conceding a late equaliser at Estadio da Madeira against Estoril Praia, Nacional suffered yet another setback last weekend.
The White and Blacks were edged 1-0 at Braga, with Jean-Baptiste Gorby's 37th-minute strike proving decisive, marking their third defeat in five matches and further compounding their struggles on the road.
Tiago Margarido's side have endured a torrid time away from home, losing eight league matches, leaving them 13th in the standings on 23 points, just two above the relegation playoff spot.
Nacional's tally of six points from a possible 36 makes them the fourth-worst travellers in the division, but the Funchal-based outfit have fared better on their own turf, where they have picked up 17 points from 11 outings, ranking 11th in the league's home table.
The hosts will hope this provides an advantage as they look to continue their dominance over this weekend's visitors at Madeira, having beaten them in both of their previous encounters at the ground – a 3-0 victory in the Segunda Liga before a 2-0 triumph in the top flight last season – as the Nacionalistas aim to put distance between themselves and the drop zone.
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Famalicao, meanwhile, were left frustrated in the reverse fixture, failing to capitalise on home advantage in a goalless draw against Nacional in September last year, leaving their streak of securing at least one win per season in this matchup under threat.
Keeping that pattern alive will be no easy feat, considering Fama's struggles at Madeira, but the visitors can take confidence from their recent resurgence, with a 2-0 triumph over Moreirense last time out extending their unbeaten run to five matches, leaving them in ninth place with 31 points.
Armando Evangelista's men have further reason to believe, having secured back-to-back away victories against Boavista and Gil Vicente in that stretch after enduring a four-match winless run on the road.
Their upturn in form has been built on a solid defensive foundation, with Famalicao yet to concede during their current five-match unbeaten run.
That resilient backline will be put to the test against a Nacional side that has found the net in each of their last four home matches, averaging at least two goals per game in that spell.
Team News
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Nacional remain 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 problem.
Additionally, Cameroonian forward Joel Tagueu is unavailable with a muscle problem, leaving the number nine role up for grabs between Isaac Aguiar and midfielder Daniel Penha, who was deployed as a makeshift striker last time out.
However, given Nacional drew a blank in Braga, Aguiar could return to lead the line, with Penha likely dropping back into midfield to assume his natural position.
Famalicao emerged unscathed from their victory over Moreirense, though first-choice goalkeeper Ivan Zlobin remains sidelined due to a kidney issue.
Meanwhile, Gustavo Sa is expected to miss Saturday's clash through suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, potentially opening the door for Gil Dias to join a three-man attacking midfield alongside Oscar Aranda and Sorriso.
That could be the only alteration to the side that started against Moreirense, with Czech striker Vaclav Sejk set to spearhead the attack once again.
Nacional possible starting lineup:
Franca; Garcia, Rocha, Ze Vitor, Appiah; Penha, Soumare, Esteves; Boia, Isaac, Teodora
Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Carevic; Pinheiro, Mihaj, De Haas, Soares; De Amorim, Van de Looi; Sorriso, Dias, Aranda; Sejk
We say: Nacional 1-1 Famalicao
While Famalicao have been the more in-form side, their struggles at Nacional's ground suggest a tight contest, and with the hosts also faltering in their last two home games, failing to claim victory, a balanced outcome seems the most likely scenario.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
