Chaves set out in search of their first win since the turn of the year when they play host to SC Farense at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira in round 20 of the Primeira Liga on Sunday.
Having suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat when the sides met in August's reverse fixture, the Flavienses will head into the weekend looking to get one over the visitors and end their seven-game winless run.
Match preview
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With a little under half of the season left to be played, Chaves find themselves scrambling for points at the bottom end of the Primeira Liga table and need to turn their fortunes around sooner rather than later if they hope to preserve their top-flight status.
Joao Teixeira's men, who finished seventh in the league last season, have picked up just 13 points from their 19 league matches to sit bottom but one in the table, level on points with last-placed Vizela and five points away from safety.
Chaves head into the weekend off the back of a 1-1 draw against Braga on Wednesday when Rodrigo Zalazar and Steven Vitoria scored for either side to force a share of the spoils at the Estadio Braga Municipal.
The Flavienses have now failed to taste victory in seven consecutive matches, losing four and picking up three draws since scraping a 2-1 victory over Vizela on December 1.
Chaves' underwhelming campaign has been in no small part owing to their struggles at the defensive end of the pitch, where they have conceded the highest number of goals in the division (45).
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Farense, on the other hand, were simply outplayed and outclassed by a rampant Porto side as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the 30-time Portuguese champions last Sunday.
Bruno Duarte converted his 59th-minute penalty to half the deficit after Evanilson and Alan Varela put the visitors two goals up, but Evanilson grabbed his second of the game in the 76th minute to put the game to bed.
Since securing back-to-back wins against Arouca and Boavista in November, Farense have picked up just two wins in their eight subsequent matches to date, losing four and claiming two draws.
Despite their recent struggle for consistency, Jose Mota's men remain on course for a top-half finish as they sit seventh in the Primeira Liga table, having picked up 24 points from their 19 matches.
Next up for Farense is a trip to the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira, where they have won just one of their last five visits, losing twice and claiming two draws since November 2013.
Team News
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Chaves will have to make do without the experience of Vitoria as the 37-year-old defender is currently suspended after receiving his marching orders against Braga on Wednesday.
Cape Verde forward Joao Correia will also play no part in Sunday's game due to a one-match suspension after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking last time out.
On the injury front, Mota will take to the pitch without the services of 24-year-old defender Habib Sylla, who has been sidelined since October through a severe muscle problem.
With his strike against Porto last time out, Duarte now has eight goal involvements in 15 league starts and the Brazilian forward should spearhead Farense's attack once again.
Claudio Falcao and former Mafra man Mattheus were both on target when Farense thrashed Chaves in August and they will be looking to deliver the goods once again.
Chaves possible starting lineup:
Souza; Phete, Nogueira, Pius, Cruz; Nwakali, Fernandes, Guzzo; Santos, Hernandez, Ribeiro
SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Velho; Pastor, Silva, Muscat, Talocha; Caseres, Falcao; Balde, Mattheus, Matias; Duarte
We say: Chaves 1-2 SC Farense
The last four meetings between Chaves and Farense have produced a combined 14 goals and we anticipate another action-packed contest this weekend. Mota's men are the more in-form side and we fancy them to come away with the desired result.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
