Primeira Liga returns with a fresh set of fixtures as Famalicao and SC Farense go head to head at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao on Saturday.
The spoils have been shared in each of their last three meetings between the sides since January 2019 and they will head into the weekend looking to get one over the other.
Match preview
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Famalicao suffered their first defeat of the 2023-24 Primeira Liga campaign last Sunday when they were beaten 1-0 by Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Portuguese forward Paulinho continued his superb form in front of goal as he netted his fourth goal of the season in the 52nd minute to hand the Leoes all three points.
Prior to that, Famalicao came from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory over Braga in the league opener on August 11 courtesy of second-half goals from Afonso Rodrigues and Oscar Aranda, 10 days before playing out a goalless draw against Moreirense on home turf.
The Vila Nova have now failed to win 10 of their last 11 competitive matches, claiming three draws and losing seven, including a shock 3-2 defeat to Segunda Liga side Os Belenenses in the Taca da Liga qualifiers.
Next up for Famalicao is an opposing side who they have failed to get the better of in their last five meetings, losing once and picking up four draws since a 2-1 victory in October 2015.
Farense, on the other hand, picked up their first win since returning to the top flight last Saturday, when they hammered Chaves 5-0 at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira.
The Leoes de Faro turned in a superb display at the attacking end of the pitch as Zach Muscat, Claudio Faleao, Mohamed Belloumi, Fabricio Isidoro and Mattheus all found the back of the net to hand the visitors a third in their opening three games.
Having clinched promotion to the top flight courtesy of a second-placed finish in the Segunda Liga lash season, Farense kicked off the season with successive wins over Moreirense and Oliveirense in July to book their spot in the group stages of the Taca da Liga.
However, they stumbled into the new Primeira Liga campaign as they fell to a 3-0 home defeat against Casa Pia in the league opener on August 13, eight days before losing 2-0 to Porto at the Estadio do Dragao.
Manager Jose Mota will hope that last weekend's result can serve as a springboard for a fine run of form as they look to pick up successive Primeira Liga wins for the first time this season.
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Team News
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Famalicao remain without the services of Portuguese midfielder Theo Fonseca, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an ACL injury last October.
Pablo Felipe missed the game against Sporting Lisbon after picking up a red card versus Moreirense on August 21 but the teenage midfielder is eligible to feature this weekend.
Off the back of a superb all-round team performance against Chaves last time out, Mota could name an unchanged Farense starting XI this weekend.
That said, we expect to see a back four of Joao Talocha, Zach Muscat, Goncalo Silva and Ferroviaria loanee Joao Talocha shielding 25-year-old Ricardo Velho in goal.
Matheus, Isidoro and Claudio Falcao should retain their roles at the centre of the park, while Belloumi, Rui Costa and Marco Matias should team up at the attacking end of the pitch.
Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Aguirregabiria, Riccieli, Otavio, Moura; Youssouf, Sa; Aranda, Araujo, Rodrigues; Cadiz
SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Velho; Pastor, Muscat, Silva, Talocha; Mattheus, Falcao, Isidoro; Belloumi, Costa, Matias
We say: Famalicao 2-1 SC Farense
Buoyed by their resounding victory over Chaves, Farense will head into the weekend with sky-high confidence as they look to build on that result. Despite Famalicao's recent struggles, they boast a superior and more experienced squad than the visitors and we see them snatching a narrow win in front of their home fans.
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