Seeking to end their three-game winless run, Moreirense play host to Famalicao to the Parque Joaquim de Almeida Freitas in gameweek six of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Saturday.
Having failed to win both home and away meetings between the teams last season, Armando Evangelista's men will head into the weekend looking to get one over the hosts and secure their fourth win of the campaign.
Match preview
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Moreirense failed to find their feet last Saturday as they suffered a 3-1 defeat against Casa Pia when the two teams squared off at the Estadio Pina Manique.
In a tale of two halves, Madson netted in the 35th minute to hand the visitors a first-half lead but Duplexe Tchamba, Raul Garcia Gonzalez and Nuno Moreira all hit the target in the second half to help Casa Pia turn the game on its head.
Having kicked off the season with back-to-back victories over Farense and Arouca, Moreirense have now failed to win their subsequent three matches, losing to Braga and Casa Pia on either side of a 1-1 draw against Benfica on August 30.
Cesar Peixoto's side have picked up seven points from the first 15 available to sit eighth in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with ninth-placed AVS and three points off Saturday's visitors in fourth place.
Moreirense will fancy themselves to bounce back this weekend as they take on an opposing side against whom they are unbeaten in six of their last seven league meetings, picking up three wins and three draws since November 2019.
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Famalicao, on the other hand, failed to return to winning ways last weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Gil Vicente when the teams met at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao.
Spanish striker Mario Gonzalez finished off a well-worked set piece play to put the hosts ahead in the 14th minute but Gil Vicente forward Felix Correia hit back in the 49th minute to force a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, the Vila Nova picked up three wins to start the new campaign, seeing off Benfica, Estrela Amadora and Boavista while scoring six goals and keeping three clean sheets, before crashing down to earth in a 2-1 loss against Vitoria de Guimaraes on September 1.
While Famalicao will be looking to arrest their slump on Saturday, they will need to be at their best at the Parque Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, where Moreirense are unbeaten in four straight Primeira Liga matches, picking up three wins and one draw since a 1-0 loss against Gil Vicente on April 20.
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Team News
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Moreirense remain without the services of Portuguese forward Hernani Infande, who has been out of action since picking up a thigh injury in March's game against Arouca.
He is joined on Os verdes e brancos' injury table by Senegalese defender Alhassane Sylla, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines, while Jeremy Antonisse is a doubt after coming off injured against Casa Pia last time out.
Madson has been a standout performer for Moreirense this season and the Brazilian forward, who has two goals to his name already, should retain his role in the front three, teaming up with Luis Asue and fellow countryman Gabrielzinho.
Barring any late fitness issues, Famalicao will head into Saturday's clash with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns, giving Evangelista the luxury of a full-strength squad at his disposal.
With his strike against Gil Vicente, Gonzalez now has three goal contributions in the league this season and the Spanish striker, who joined on loan from MLS side Los Angeles FC in the summer, should lead the visitors' attack once again.
Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Fabiano, Marcelo, Maracas, Frimpong; Tavares, Ismael, Alanzinho; Gabrielzinho, Madson, Asue
Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Zlobin; Calegari, De Haas, Mihaj, Soares; Topic, Youssouf; Aranda, Sa, Sorriso; Gonzalez
We say: Moreirense 2-2 Famalicao
Looking at recent meetings between Moreirense and Famalicao, we anticipate an end-to-end affair with plenty of goalmouth action. Both sides have enjoyed a strong start to the campaign and we predict that both sides will cancel out each other's efforts in a high-scoring stalemate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
