Maritimo and Casa Pia draw the curtain on round eight of the Portuguese Primeira Liga when they go head to head at the Estadio do Maritimo on Monday.
Joao Henriques's men have endured a wretched start to the 2022-23 campaign, losing each of their opening seven games, and will set out to end this dry spell.
Match preview
Maritimo failed to get their league campaign up and running in their most recent outing as they were on the receiving end of a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Benfica two Sundays ago.
In a one-sided affair at the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, goals from Rafa Silva, David Neres, new signing Julian Draxler and a brace from Portuguese forward Goncalo Ramos helped the home side pick up a 19th win on the spin across all competitions.
O Maior das Ilhas, who secured a 10th-placed finish last term, have now lost each of their seven games this season, while they are unbeaten in 11 consecutive league outings, stretching back to a 4-0 victory over Boavista on April 16.
Henriques's side are currently rooted to the bottom of the Primeira Liga standings and their underwhelming start to the season has been down to their defensive frailties as they currently hold the division's worst defensive record with 22 goals conceded already.
While Maritimo will be looking to end this dry spell, they have struggled to get going on home turf, where they are currently on a run of five consecutive defeats since April and have managed just one win since the turn of the year — claiming three draws and losing eight of their 12 games.
In stark contrast, Casa Pia continued to strengthen their position in the top half of the standings as they claimed a slender 1-0 victory over Famalicao when the sides squared off on September 18.
Brazilian defender Leo Bolgado came up clutch at the National Sports Center of Jamor as he netted the only goal of the game in the 60th minute to condemn the Vila Nova to a third consecutive defeat.
Casa Pia, who secured a second-placed finish in the Segunda Liga to clinch promotion to the top flight, have now won four of their last five outings, with a goalless draw against Arouca on September 4 being the exception.
With 15 points from their opening seven games of the season, Filipe Martins's side are currently sixth in the league standings, but could potentially rise to fourth place with all three points on Monday.
Team News
Andre Vidigal returned from a one-game suspension against Benfica two Sundays ago and the Portuguese midfielder should be handed his seventh start of the season.
He should be joined at the centre of the park by Joao Afonso, Diogo Mendes and Antonio Zarzana, while Bruno Xadas and skipper Joel Tagueu should spearhead the attack once again.
Meanwhile, Martins will be unable to call upon the defensive duo of Joao Nunes and Brazilian left-back Derick Poloni, who have been sidelined through injuries.
Veteran forward Carnejy Antoine is yet to make an appearance for Casa Pia this season after coming off injured in July and the 31-year-old will play no part in Monday's matchup.
Saviour Godwin's fine start to the season earned his first call-up to the Nigeria national team and the 26-year-old, who has two goals to his name this season, should team up with Takahiro Kunimoto and Clayton at the attacking end of the pitch.
Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Silva; Costa, China, Leo; Winck, Vidigal, Afonso, Mendes, Zarzana; Xadas, Tagueu
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Batista; Nunes, Fernandes, Zolotic; Soares, Taira, Neto, Lelo; Kunimoto, Clayton, Godwin
We say: Maritimo 1-2 Casa Pia
Casa Pia will fancy their chances of maintaining their fine run of results as they go up against an out-of-sorts Maritimo side who have endured a horrid start to the season. Martins's side have picked up seven points from a possible nine away from home this season and we are backing them to come away with a slender victory on Monday.
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