Boavista will be looking to make it three wins from their opening three games in the new Primeira Liga campaign when they visit the National Sports Center of Jamor to face Casa Pia on Sunday.
The newly-promoted side, on the other hand, head into the weekend as one of six sides who are yet to taste victory this season and will be aiming to end this poor run.
Match preview
© Reuters
Casa Pia were denied their first win of the 2022-23 Primeira Liga campaign as they fell to a slender 1-0 loss against Benfica on home turf last Saturday.
In a game where Nicolas Otamendi received his marching orders, in-form striker Goncalo Ramos came up clutch at the Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa as he netted two minutes before the hour mark to hand As Aguias all three points.
This followed an uneventful goalless draw with Santa Clara in their league curtain-raiser on August 7, when Leonardo Lelo saw his 10th-minute penalty saved by a spirited Marco Pereira in goal for Os Acoreanos.
Casa Pia now return to their home turf, where they are currently unbeaten in eight of their most recent nine competitive outings — claiming seven wins and one draw — with last weekend's loss to Benfica being the only exception.
Elsewhere, Boavista maintained their perfect start to the season last time out when they fought back from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over nine-man Santa Clara at the Estadio do Besssa.
In a game where Bruno Almeida and Christian Tassano both saw red, Rildo scored in the 34th minute to put the visitors in front heading into the break, but Yusupha Nije and Martim Tavares scored second-half goals to turn the game on its head.
Prior to that, Petit's men claimed a hard-earned 1-0 victory away to Portimonense in their league opener on August 7 after holding out for a 3-3 draw with Bolivian outfit Club Bolivar in their only pre-season friendly game on August 3.
Boavista, who secured a 12th-placed finish last season, head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their most recent six games across all competitions, picking up three wins and three draws since April's 3-0 loss against Sporting Lisbon.
- D
- L
- W
- W
- L
- W
- D
- L
- W
- W
- W
- D
- D
- D
- W
- W
Team News
Despite their defeat against Benfica last time out, Nermin Zolotic, Vasco Fernandes and Joao Nunes should be given the nod by Martin once again, teaming up in the three-man back line once again.
Thirty-year-old Afonso Tiara and former Moreirense man Neto should handle business at the centre of the park once again, while Lucas Soares and Lelo should retain their wing-back roles.
While Os Gansos are one of just four sides yet to find the back of the net this season, Rafael Martins should lead the attack once again, while Brazilian Anderson Cordeiro Costa should push for his first start of the season.
Meanwhile, Boavista will take to the pitch without the services of Ricardo Mangas, who will now miss the opening three games of the season through a muscle injury.
He is joined on Os Axadrezados' injury table by 23-year-old midfielder Miguel Reisinho, who has been out of action since last August through a knee injury.
Njie has been instrumental in Boavista's early success and the 28-year-old forward, who has netted in each of the visitors' opening two games, should lead the attack once again, alongside Luis Santos and Kenji Gorre.
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Batista; Fernandes, Zolotic, Nunes; Lelo, Teixeira, Neto, Taira, Soares; Kunimoto, Martins
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Bracali; Canno, Abascal, Ferreira; Malheiro, Makouta, Hamache, Perez; Santos, Gorre, Njie
We say: Casa Pia 1-2 Boavista
While Casa Pia will be desperate to get their campaign up and running, they face a Boavista side who have flown out of the blocks this season. Os Axadrezados are currently firing on all cylinders at both ends of the pitch and we anticipate that they will come away with all three points this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
