Estrela Amadora and Vizela take to the pitch for the first time in the new year when they lock horns at the Estadio Jose Gomes in round 16 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday.
This will be their first meeting since they clashed in the Taca de Portugal fourth round back in November, when the Vizelenses scraped an extra-time victory at the Estadio do FC Vizela.
Match preview
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Having ended a 15-year absence from the Primeira Liga when they beat Maritimo over two legs in last June's playoff, Estrela will at least be satisfied with their performance in the first half of the campaign.
While they have lost just under 50% of their 15 matches, Estrela are currently level on 16 points with Arouca, Boavista and Casa Pia in the league table and could move into seventh place with all three points this weekend.
Despite what has been a decent campaign in the big leagues, Sergio Vieira's men will no doubt be looking over their shoulders as they sit just four points above Rio Ave in the relegation playoff zone and six above rock-bottom Chaves.
The Tricolours were hammered 4-1 by Arouca in their final game of the year, when Rafa Mujica, Jason, Francisco Montero and Andre Bukia scored second-half goals to cancel out Kialonda Gaspar's 11th-minute opener and hand the Arouquenses all three points at the Estadio Jose Gomes.
Estrela have won just one of their last seven matches across all competitions — losing four and picking up two draws — a run which saw them crash out of the Taca de Portugal after a 2-1 extra-time loss to Saturday's visitors on November 24.
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Over in the North, Vizela have picked up just two wins so far and will need to up the ante in the business end of the season if they are to extend their three-year stint in the Portuguese top flight.
Ruben de la Barrera's men, who finished 11th last season, currently find themselves in 17th position, level on points with 16th-placed Rio Ave in the relegation playoff spot and just two points above rock-bottom Chaves.
Vizela's underwhelming campaign has been owing to their lack of sting in attack, where they have scored the fewest number of goals so far (14), despite proving to be solid at the opposite end of the pitch.
The Vizelenses have also struggled to impose themselves at home, where they currently hold the division's second-poorest record, having picked up just six points from their eight matches at the Estadio do FC Vizela — with only Casa Pipa (5) claiming fewer points on home turf.
This was highlighted in their final game of the year when they were held to a goalless draw by Moreirense, extending their winless run in the league to five games, having picked up three draws and lost twice since a 1-0 victory at Casa Pia on November 5.
While Vizela's home form also leaves a lot to be desired, a run of two wins and three draws in six away matches since the start of November offers some level of optimism as they look to kick off the new year on the right track.
Team News
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Estrela will be without goalkeeper Wagner Guimaraes, who will serve the first of a three-game suspension after picking up a straight red card against Arouca last time out.
Edmilson Cambila is expected to start between the sticks for the first time this season, with Gaspar, Erivaldo Almeida and Nkanyiso Shinga forming the back three once again.
On the injury front, Estrela remain without several players down the spine of the team, including Pedro Mendes, Miguel Lopes and the Brazilian trio of Aloisio Souza, Bruno Brigido and Mansur.
As for Vizela, Pedro Otiz and Rodrigo Escobal both picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season against Moreirense last time out and will sit out Saturday's game through suspension.
In their absence, Diogo Nascimento will push for a starting role at the centre of the park, while former Oliveirense man Hugo Oliveira should form the back three with Anderson and 27-year-old Bruno Wilson.
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Cambila; Gaspar, Almeida, Shinga; Felipe, Emanuel, Cordeiro, Reis; Martins, Luiz, Jaba
Vizela possible starting lineup:
Buntic; Oliveira, Anderson, Wilson; Silva, Samu, Bustamante, Nascimento, Pereira; Essende, Mendez
We say: Estrela Amadora 1-2 Vizela
While Vizela find themselves in the bottom half of the table after an underwhelming first half of the season, they have been solid away from home in recent weeks and we fancy them coming away with all three points against the hosts who have struggled for consistency.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
