Two in-form sides square off in round 10 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as Moreirense play host to Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Parque Joaquim de Almeida Freitas on Sunday.
Os verdes e brancos head into the weekend on a run of three wins and one draw in their last four league matches while the visitors set out in search of a fifth consecutive victory across all competitions.
Match preview
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Moreirense picked up consecutive Primeira Liga away wins for the first time this season last Friday when they edged out Arouca 1-0 at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca.
In a game where Jeremy Antonisse received his marching orders, 34-year-old defender Marcelo netted the only goal of the game in the 39th minute to hand the Arouquenses their fifth straight league defeat.
Prior to that, Moreirense saw their Taca de Portugal campaign come to an end in the third round courtesy of a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of Campeonato de Portugal outfit Paredes on October 21.
With last Friday's victory, Rui Borges's men have now gone four consecutive Primeira Liga games without defeat, picking up three wins and one draw since a 3-0 loss against Sporting Lisbon on September 17.
Having picked up just one win in their opening five league matches, Os verdes e brancos upturn in form has seen them move into seventh place in the league standings with 14 points from nine matches.
While Moreirense will look to keep the ball rolling this weekend and strengthen their position in the top half of the table, next up is an opposing side who have won their most recent three league meetings and are unbeaten in their last nine, claiming six wins and three draws since a 2-1 loss in December 2017.
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Vitoria de Guimaraes, on the other hand, turned in a performance of the highest quality last Saturday when they steamrolled Chaves 5-0 at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques.
The hosts took full advantage of their numerical upper hand following Ygor Nogueira's first-half sending-off as Joao Mendes, Tomas Handel, Jota Silva, Andre Silva and Manuel Silva all found the back of the net to cap off a superb team display.
Vitoria de Guimaraes have now won each of their last four games across all competitions, including a 3-1 victory over Moncarapachense in the third round of the Taca de Portugal on October 22.
Alvaro Pacheco's men, who are eyeing a fourth straight Primeira Liga win for the second time this year, are currently fourth in the league table and could move level on 22 points with second-placed Benfica with a win this weekend.
Team News
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Moreirense will take to the pitch without 21-year-old forward Antonisse, who will serve a one-game suspension after picking up a red card against Arouca last time out.
On the injury front, Os verdes e brancos will have to cope without Portuguese defender Dinis Pinto, who has been sidelined since coming off with a first-half injury in August's league opener against Famalicao.
Off the back of keeping a third clean sheet in four games, Borges could name an unchanged back four of Pedro Amador, Maracas, Marcelo and Fabiano Silva shielding goalkeeper Kewin between the sticks.
Meanwhile, Vitoria de Guimaraes will be without Tiago Silva, who is set to serve the second of his three-game suspension after picking up a straight red card in the cup tie against Moncarapachense on October 22.
Telmo Arcanjo continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining an injury back in May, while Venezuelan defender Mikel Villanueva is currently recuperating from a foot problem.
Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Fabiano, Maracas, Marcelo, Amador; Franco, Ofori; Madson, Alanzinho, Kodisang; Luis
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Fernandes, M Silva, Ribeiro; Gaspar, Handel, D Silva, Mendes, Mangas, J Silva, A Silva
We say: Moreirense 1-1 Vitoria de Guimaraes
Vitoria de Guimaraes have enjoyed a solid start to the season and will be looking to strengthen their position in the upper echelons of the table. However, Moreirense have also put together a fine run of form in the league of late and we predict that they will do just enough to force a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
