Moreirense set out in search of a second consecutive away win for the first time this year when they journey to the Estadio do Bessa to take on Boavista on Saturday.
The hosts head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their last five games against Os verdes e brancos since June 2020 and will be looking to extend this impressive four-year streak.
Match preview
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Boavista continue to struggle for results in the bottom half of the Primeira Liga standings as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw with Famalicao when the sides met on Monday.
Florian Danho opened the scoring at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao to hand the Vila Nova a 16th-minute lead but Salvador Agra restored parity for the visitors nine minutes after the hour mark.
Boavista have now failed to taste victory in three back-to-back games — picking up one point from a possible nine — and have won just two of their last 18 matches across all competitions while losing 12 and claiming four draws since late October.
Having shown promise in the early stages of the season, when they secured five wins and three draws in their opening nine matches, this poor run of form has seen Ricardo Paiva's men fall into the relegation conversation as the season approaches its business end.
Boavista have picked up 25 points from 24 Primeira Liga matches so far to sit 12th in the league table, just three points above the relegation playoff spot, but they could rise into eighth place with a win this weekend.
Os Axadrezados will have to be at their best on Saturday as they go up against a Moreirense side who boast the division's fifth-best away record, having picked up 21 points from the 12 games on their travels so far.
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Moreirense dropped two more points in their push for a place in Europe last time out as they played out a somewhat disappointing goalless draw against Rio Ave at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.
With nothing to separate the sides in normal time, Rui Borges's side were awarded a 92nd-minute penalty, but Brazilian forward Alan stepped up and sent his effort crashing into the crossbar.
Following an impressive first half of the season, a lack of consistency has threatened to derail Moreirense's quest for a top-four finish as they have failed to win five of their nine matches since the turn of the year.
With 39 points from 24 matches, Os verdes e brancos are currently sixth in the Primeira Liga standings, 10 points adrift of fourth-place Braga in the Europa Conference League qualification spot.
While Moreirense will be looking to return to winning ways this weekend, they go up against a Boavista side who they have failed to get the better of in each of their last five encounters, losing three and claiming two draws since a 1-0 victory in June 2020.
Team News
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Brazilian goalkeeper Cesar Dutra has been sidelined since last August through a cruciate ligament rupture and the 32-year-old will play no part in Saturday's game.
He is joined on Boavista injury table by teenage left-back Augusto Dabo, who also continues his long road to full fitness after suffering a severe injury last year.
Portuguese forward Luis Santos was forced off injured late in the game against Famalicao last weekend and the 24-year-old is also a major doubt for Os Axadrezados.
Off the back of keeping successive clean sheets, we expect Borges to name an unchanged back Moreirense four of Silva Fabiano, Carlos Ponck, Maracas and Godfried Frimpong shielding Kewin between the sticks.
On the injury front, Os verdes e brancos remain without the services of Senegalese defender Alhassane Sylla, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Goncalves; Sasso, Awaziem, Abascal; Malheiro, Reisinho, Vukotic, Onyemaechi; Lourenco, Agra, Bozenik
Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Fabiano, Ponck, Maracas, Frimpong; Castro, Franco; Madson, Ofori, Camacho; Asue
We say: Boavista 1-2 Moreirense
Looking at recent meetings between Boavista and Moreirense, we anticipate a cagey affair at the Estadio do Bessa on Saturday. Borges's side are unbeaten in six of their last eight matches on the road and we fancy them seeing off Os Axadrezados who have won just one home game since September.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
