Relegation-threatened SC Farense travel to the Estadio Municipal de Arouca on Saturday afternoon as they face up against top-half Arouca.
The visitors sit in 11th place, but just four points above Portimonense in the relegation playoff spot, while the hosts are seven points better off than the visitors and sit in seventh place.
Match preview
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After an extremely impressive club joint-best fifth-place finish last season, Arouca have seen a slight slip down the table this time around.
The hosts started the season under the management of Daniel Ramos after Armando Evangelista, who guided the side to UEFA Europa Conference League qualification, turned down a contract renewal and opted to leave the club.
Ramos's men started the Primeira Liga with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Estoril Praia before then failing to win in any of their next 10 league games, eventually winning 4-0 against Boavista in new boss Daniel Sousa's first league game in charge.
Since then Arouca have quickly climbed the table, winning eight of the following 14 games, and now sit rather comfortably 11 points above the relegation zone in seventh place.
In stark comparison to the hosts' season, Farense kicked off their first campaign back in the top flight since their relegation in the 2020-21 season in good fashion, finding themselves in seventh place in January following a 3-1 victory over Casa Pia.
However, Jose Mota's side have failed to win in any of the following eight games and have fallen down the table into 11th place, dangerously close to Portimonense who are just four points worse off in the relegation playoff spot.
With just eight games remaining until the end of the season, Mota's team must start picking up victories if they are to retain their position in the Portuguese top flight for back-to-back seasons.
Farense have faced Arouca on three separate occasions in league settings and remain unbeaten across those games, sharing the spoils in the first two meetings in Liga Portugal 2 in 2019 before winning 2-0 at home earlier in the season thanks to two goals from the penalty spot.
Team News
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The home side will be missing three players for this match, with Matias Rocha, Vitinho and Robson Bambu all unavailable due to injury.
Sousa's side will be boosted by the return of captain David Simao after he served a match ban against Moreirense, while top scorer Rafa Mujica will also be available for selection.
The visitors remain without Luiz Felipe after the keeper sustained a tendon injury in February.
Claudio Falcao misses out as he reached a milestone of bookings in Farense's previous outing against Rio Ave, leaving him suspended for this one.
Arouca possible starting lineup:
Arruabarrena; Esgaio, Galovic, Montero, Weverson; Santos, Simao; Jason, Gonzales, Sylla; Mujica
SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Velho; Pastor, Silva, Muscat, Talys; Isidoro, Caseres; Matias, Oliveira, Belloumi; Luis
We say: Arouca 3-1 SC Farense
The return of talisman Mujica will give the home side a huge boost for this game, especially if the striker returns in the same vein of form that saw him score eight in eight games before his injury.
The visitors have struggled for victories in recent weeks and have only managed three away victories across the entire season, and we expect them to fail for their search for victory in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
