AVS and Estrela Amadora are in action for the last time in 2024 when they go head to head at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves in round 16 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Saturday.
The Tricolores, who have lost each of their six league games on the road since the 1-1 draw at Braga in August's season opener, will head into the weekend looking to end this dire run and close out the year on a positive note.
Match preview
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AVS were involved in a share of the spoils for the third consecutive game as they played out a goalless draw with Boavista when the two teams squared off at the Estadio do Bessa last Saturday.
A total of 22 shots were fired in the game, but with both teams fluffing their lines in front of goal, neither goalkeeper would end up picking the ball out of the back of the net, with a draw being a fair result upon reflection.
While AVS have shown resilience in recent weeks, they have now gone nine back-to-back games without a win across all competitions, claiming four draws and losing five, including a somewhat disappointing 3-2 defeat against Campeonato de Portugal outfit Lusitano Evora in the Taca de Portugal fourth round on November 23.
Daniel Ramos's men have also failed to taste victory in any of their last 10 Primeira Liga matches, losing four and playing out six stalemates — a run stretching back to September 14, when they scraped a 1-0 victory against Rio Ave on home turf.
Having gained promotion from the second tier last term, AVS have struggled to impose themselves in the big leagues as they sit 14th in the Primeira Liga standings with 13 points from 15 games, just two points above rock-bottom Arouca.
On the other hand, Estrela Amadora maintained their impressive home form as they held on to see out a 1-0 victory over Rio Ave at the Estadio Jose Gomes on Monday.
After 20-year-old Tiago Gabriel rose highest to head home Alan Ruiz's corner in the 36th minute, the hosts turned in a solid shift in defence to repel Rio Ave and hand them their seventh league defeat of the campaign.
Estrela have now won three home games on the trot, seeing off Nacional, Arouca and Rio Ave, and are unbeaten in each of their last six matches in front of their supporters, picking up four wins and two draws since losing back-to-back games against Famalicao and Casa Pia back in August.
While Jose Faria's side have been impenetrable at home of late, they have struggled for results on the road, where they have lost each of their last four outings across all competition — conceding 15 goals and scoring just once — and have managed the fewest number of points in the league this season (1).
Having secured a 14th-placed finish last season, Estrela have endured a topsy-turvy first half of the season, claiming four wins and three draws from their 15 Primeira Liga matches to collect 15 points and sit 12th in the table, one point behind 11th-placed Rio Ave.
Team News
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AVS will take to the pitch without the services of Georgian midfielder Giorgi Aburjania, who has missed each of the last seven games since coming off with a thigh injury against Famalicao on November 3.
He is joined on the club's injury table by 20-year-old goalkeeper Lucas Moura, who continues his long journey to full fitness after picking up a shoulder problem back in March.
Following their solid defensive display against Boavista, we should see an unchanged back three of Christian Castro, Ignacio Rodriguez and Baptiste Roux, with Vasco Lopes, Lucas Piazon and 41-year-old Nene leading the attack.
As for Estrela Amadora, veteran defender Miguel Lopes has missed the last two matches through injury and the 38-year-old is also out of contention for Saturday's clash.
Fellow defender Ferro came off injured midway through the Tricolores' clash against Arouca on December 9 and the 27-year-old is also expected to sit out this weekend's matchup.
AVS possible starting lineup:
Bertelli; Rodriguez, Castro, Roux; Afonso, Silva, Mendonca, Fonseca; Lopes, Piazon, Nene
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Brigido; Travassos, Gabriel, Drame, Lima; Cordeiro, Jesus; Luiz, Ruiz, Nilton; Kikas
We say: AVS 1-1 Estrela Amadora
It has been a dissapointing end to 2024 for AVS, who will be looking to snap their nine-match winless run and gather momentum ahead of the start of the new year. Estrela, meanwhile, have blown hot and cold in recent weeks, and while their form on the road leaves a lot to be desired, we predict they will hold out for a share of the spoils at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
