Two sides who could do with a win go head to head in round 13 of the Primeira Liga as Estrela Amadora play host to Boavista at the Estadio Jose Gomes on Sunday.
Sergio Vieira's men head into the weekend without a win in their last four outings across all competitions while the visitors will be looking to snap their run of six consecutive defeats.
Match preview
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Estrela Amadora failed to find their feet in Primeira Liga as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw against Rio Ave when the sides squared off at the Estadio dos Arcos last Saturday.
With the game approaching its end, veteran defender Aderllan Santos put the home side in front with an 81st-minute header, but full-back Josue Sa scored an own goal five minutes later to force a share of the spoils.
Vieira's side have now gone four consecutive games without a win across all competitions, claiming one draw and losing three, including a 2-1 extra-time defeat at the hands of Vizela in the Taca de Portugal on November 24.
Estrela's most recent victory came six weeks ago, when they scrapped a 1-0 win over Famalicao at the Estadio Jose Gomes courtesy of a second-half strike from Flamengo loanee Andre Luiz.
While the Tricolores have conceded the second-fewest number of goals among the sides in the bottom half of the table, they have struggled on the offense, netting just 12 so far — only Casa Pia (9) and Famalicao (11) have scored fewer.
Estrela have picked up three wins, three draws and lost six of their 12 league matches so far to collect 12 points and sit 12th in the Primeira Liga table, three points and three places below Sunday's hosts.
Meanwhile, Boavista were left empty-handed once again as they suffered a 4-0 thumping against Arouca when the sides squared off at the Estadio do Bessa last Sunday.
In a heated contest where both sides finished with 10 men, a brace from Cristo Gonzalez and Rafa Mujica's close-range strike put the visitors in a commanding first-half lead before Jason put the icing on the cake with a neat finish in the 72nd minute.
This was a second defeat in consecutive cup and league games against Arouca, who claimed a penalty-shootout victory when the sides met in round four of the Taca de Portugal on November 26.
Boavista have now lost each of their last six matches across all competitions, stretching back to a 3-1 cup win over Oliveirense on October 22, while they are without a win in seven straight league matches since September's 4-1 victory over Chaves.
Petit's men flew out of the blocks this season, picking up four wins and one draw in their opening five matches, but they have managed just two points from the last 21 available in what has been a disappointing collapse.
Breaching opposing defences has not been a worry for Boavista, who have made the net ripple 19 times in the league this season, but they have already conceded 24 goals and have failed to keep a clean sheet since March's goalless draw against Arouca.
Team News
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Estela will have to cope without experienced goalkeeper Bruno Brigido, who has missed the last seven matches after coming off injured against Braga on September 28.
Twenty-five-year-old Wagner has started in goal in the Tricolores' last two matches and should be given the nod once again, with Miguel Lopes, Kialonda Gaspar and Johnstone Omurwa forming the back three.
Sao Bernardo loanee Leo Jaba, who leads the team in goals and assists this season, should return to the fold this weekend, having missed last Saturday's tie due to a one-game suspension.
Boavista, on the other hand, will be without 20-year-old forward Tiago Morais, who picked up a red card in last Saturday's defeat against Arouca.
In his absence, Venezuelan forward Jeriel De Santis will push for his first league start of the season, teaming up with Robert Bozenik and Bruno Lourenco in the final third.
On the injury front, Petit will be unable to call upon the services of goalkeeper Cesar Dutra, who has been out of action since October 2022 through an ACL injury.
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Dida; Lopes, Gaspar, Omurwa; Felipe, Cordeiro, Vito, Reis; Santos, Kikas, Jaba
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Goncalves; Malheiro, Ferreira, Awaziem, Onyemaechi; Ibrahima, Perez, Makouta; De Santis, Bozenik, Lourenco
We say: Estrela Amadora 2-1 Boavista
Despite their disappointing performance, last weekend's draw saw Estrela end a three-game losing streak and they will head into Sunday's tie looking to build on that result. The Tricolores take on an out-of-sorts Boavista side and we are backing them to come away with all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
