The action continues in round 23 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as relegation-threatened Estrela Amadora and Chaves go head to head at the Estadio Jose Gomes on Saturday.
With their survival hopes potentially hinging on this result, we anticipate a thrilling contest between the sides who are currently separated by just four points in the danger zone.
Match preview
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Estrela Amadora were sent crashing back down to earth in their battle at the bottom end of the table as they fell to a 2-0 loss against Porto when the sides squared off last Saturday.
In a one-sided affair at the Estadio do Dragao, Wanderson Galeno and 24-year-old Joao Mario scored on either side of the half-time break to hand Sergio Vieira's men their 11th league defeat.
This loss came just eight days after Estrela snapped their run of seven consecutive games without a win courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 victory over Portimonense on home turf.
Making their first Primeira Liga appearance in 15 years, a tough run of results in the last eight weeks has put the Tricolours' top-flight status under threat as they sit in the relegation playoff spot, level on 21 points with Rio Ave and Estoril Praia.
Next up for Estrela is the challenge of taking on an opposing side who they have failed to get the better of in the previous three encounters between the teams, losing once and claiming two draws since December 2021.
Over in the North, Chaves picked up three huge points in their battle for survival last Saturday when they held firm to see out a 2-1 victory over Boavista at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira.
Despite playing the final 30 minutes with a man down after Carraca picked up a straight red card, Raphael Guzzo and Hector Hernandez scored either side of Bruno Lourenco's 23rd-minute penalty to hand the hosts
This was a much-needed respite for Joao Teixeira's men, who had failed to win their previous nine outings, losing five and picking up four draws while scoring just five goals and conceding 16 since the first week of December.
Chaves have now won four of their 22 Primeira Liga matches so far while losing 13 and claiming five draws to collect 17 points and sit 17th in the league table, four points behind Saturday's hosts.
Teixeira will hope that last weekend's result can serve as a springboard for a strong run of form as the Flavienses look to secure consecutive wins for the first time since October and continue their surge from the danger zone.
However, results on the road offer little optimism as Chaves have failed to win their last eight away games — losing six and claiming two draws — and currently hold the division's poorest away record, having picked up just five points from 11 matches.
Team News
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Estrela Amadora will take to the pitch without the defensive duo of Miguel Lopes and veteran Brazilian Mansur, who continue their spells on the sidelines through injuries.
They are joined on the Tricolours' injury table by 24-year-old striker Gustavo Henrique, who has missed the last five matches since coming off injured against Gil Vicente on January 14.
Manuel Keliano sustained a slight injury while in action for Angola in the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations and the 21-year-old midfielder is out of contention for this weekend's hosts.
Chaves will have to cope without experienced defender Carraca, who is set to serve the first of his three-game suspension after picking up a straight red card against Boavista last time out.
In his absence, Cape Verde defender Joao Correia should return to the fold for his 17th start of the season, forming the back three with Steven Vitoria and 28-year-old Junior Pius.
On the injury front, the Flavienses remain without the services of 24-year-old defender Habbib Sylla, who has been sidelined since picking up a muscle problem back in October.
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Brigido; Gaspar, Mendes, Lima; Santos, Cordeiro, Souza, Nilton; Jaba, Tavares, Luiz
Chaves possible starting lineup:
Souza; Correia, Vitoria, Pius; Ribeiro, Essugo, Guzzo, Cruz; Nwakali, Hernandez, Batista
We say: Estrela Amadora 2-1 Chaves
Given the stakes of this game, we anticipate an end-to-end affair at the Estadio Jose Gomes with both sides going all out in search of the win. Estrela's home advantage gives them a slight edge here and we fancy them to come away with a narrow victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
