Estoril Praia will be looking to pick up consecutive home wins for the first time this year when they go head to head with Gil Vicente on Sunday evening.
The Gilistas have failed to win any of their last five visits to the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota since January 2013 and will head into the weekend looking to end this 11-year run.
Match preview
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Estoril Praia were sent crashing back down to earth in their battle at the bottom end of the table as they fell to a 2-1 loss against Boavista when the sides squared off last Saturday.
Vincent Sasso and Robert Bozenik scored inside the opening half-hour to put Boavista two goals up at the Estadio do Bessa before Venezuelan forward Alejandro Marques pulled one back for the visitors in the 54th minute.
Prior to that, the Canarinhos snapped their run of four consecutive league games without a win on February 4 when they edged out Estrela Amadora 1-0 on home turf to secure their first league victory of the year.
Having gone unbeaten in their final four games in 2023 (three wins and one draw), a poor start to the new year has seen Vasco Seabra's side drop to 13th place in the Primeira Liga table, just one point above Casa Pia in the relegation playoff spot.
However, Estoril will be backing themselves to stop the rot and pull clear of the danger zone as they are unbeaten in their last five home games against Gil Vicente, claiming three wins and two draws since a 2-1 loss in January 2013.
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Vitor Campelos's men were left empty handed yet again as they suffered a somewhat disappointing 1-0 defeat against 10-man Vizela at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos in midweek.
In a game where Sava Petrov received his marching orders, French striker Samuel Essende put Vizela in front with a 12th-minute effort before the Vizelenses turned in a defensive show of class to see out the win.
Gil Vicente kicked off the year with three wins and one draw in their first four matches but have now lost three consecutive outings, including a 3-1 defeat against Vitoria de Guimaraes in the Taca de Portugal quarter-finals on February 8.
The Gilistas have picked up six wins, four draws and lost 11 of their 21 Primeira Liga games so far to collect 22 points and sit 11th in the league table, but could move into ninth place with all three points this weekend.
However, results on the road offer little optimism as Gil Vicente have lost nine of their 10 league matches on the road and currently hold the division's poorest away record, having picked up just three points from a possible 30.
Team News
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During Estoril's heated contest with Boavista, Mateus Fernandes picked up his fifth yellow card of the Primeira Liga campaign and the 19-year-old will serve a one-game suspension this weekend.
In his absence, Braga loanee Joao Marques will push for a place in the starting XI, teaming up with Senegalese midfielder Mor Ndiaye in the centre of the park.
On the injury front, the Canarinhos remain without experienced defender Erick Cabaco, who continues his long road to full fitness after sustaining a severe muscle injury last September.
Gil Vicente will take to the pitch without the services of 24-year-old defender Kiko Vilas Boas, who has been ruled out since sustaining a muscle injury against Portimonense on January 21.
Benfica loanee Martim Neto will also play no part in this weekend's clash due to a one-game suspension after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking against Vizela last time out.
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Figueira; Mangala, Volnei, Vital; Gomes, J Marques, Ndiaye, Araujo; Guitane, A Marques, Tavares
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Pinto, Pereira, Fernandes, Buta; Castillo; Dominguez, Fujimoto, Gbane, Souza; Correia
We say: Estoril Praia 2-1 Gil Vicente
With just one point separating Estoril and Gil Vicente at the bottom end of the table, we expect both sides to go all out in search of all three points. The Gilistas' form on the road has been nothing to write home about in the league and we are backing Seabra's men to claim a narrow victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
