Portimonense will welcome Braga to Estadio Municipal de Portimao on Monday in a battle between two sides on opposite ends of the Primeira Liga table.
The hosts are winless in their last seven matches, while the visitors are coming into this game on a five-match unbeaten streak.
Match preview
© Reuters
Portimonense's struggles continued after a 1-0 defeat to Estoril Praia before the break, leaving them with 23 points, just two points above 17th-placed Vizela and bottom-placed Chaves.
The Alvinegros' last victory came on January 28 against Boavista, but they have failed to record maximum points since then, with the run spanning seven matches, which began with consecutive defeats to Arouca and Estrela Amadora.
After playing out home draws with Vitoria de Guimaraes and Vizela either side of a 4-0 thrashing away at Benfica, the Portimao-based side then followed it with a 3-0 loss to Porto before the slim defeat to Estoril.
Things might get worse for Paulo Sergio's side, as they host an in-form Braga on Monday. The Alvinegros have lost 17 times in 22 fixtures against the Archbishops, drawing four times and winning just once, but the victory was in a friendly game.
With just eight matches left to play this season, Portimonense will hope the improvement they need to ensure survival can start on the homefront, having won just three of their total six victories on home soil.
© Reuters
Braga dug deep to ensure victory against Gil Vicente before the break, as Simon Banza's 89th-minute goal gave them a 2-1 win after Ali Alipour's spot kick had cancelled out Abel Ruiz's initial lead for the Archbishops.
Artur Jorge's men have now picked up 16 wins and five draws in their 26 Primeira Liga matches so far to collect 53 points and sit fourth in the league table, five points adrift of third-placed Porto in the Europa League qualifying spot.
However, they also have to watch their back as any slip-up could see them lose the Europa Conference League spot to Vitoria de Guimaraes who are only two points behind in fifth.
Braga have scored 11 goals and conceded twice to stay unbeaten in their last five league matches, a run they can extend against a team they have never lost a competitive game to.
The Archbishops have already beaten Portimonense twice this season in the league and Taca de Portugal, scoring 10 goals and conceding just twice across both games.
Team News
© Reuters
Carlinhos will be absent for the hosts as he is suspended as a result of picking up an excessive number of yellow cards.
Ronie Carrillo and Helio Varela were given the nod as the attacking duo in a 3-4-1-2 last time out and should retain their spot on Monday.
With Carlinhos absent, Sylvester Jasper is expected to come in to provide support for the front two.
Braga will take to the pitch without the services of Spanish defender Adrian Marin, who has been out of action since picking up a severe knee injury against Porto on January 14.
Ricardo Horta missed the last two games after coming off with a first-half injury versus Estrela Amadora on March 2 and the 29-year-old is also expected to miss Monday's game, while Sikou Niakate is also doubtful for the clash with a muscle injury.
Portimonense possible starting lineup:
Nakamura; Henrique, Tornich, Relvas; Formiga, Dener, Nonoca, Seck; Jasper; Varela, Carrillo
Braga possible starting lineup:
Lima; Mendes, Saatci, Oliveira, Borja; Moutinho, Carvalho; Fernandes, Ruiz, Bruma; Banza
We say: Portimonense 1-3 Braga
Braga are coming into this fixture in great form, having won four and drawn one of their last five matches. The Archbishops have also been dominant in their encounters with Portimonense, and we think that this dominance will continue on Monday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
