Two sides separated by just one point and two places in the top half of the Primeira Liga standings go head to head when Santa Clara and Pacos de Ferreira square off at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday.
The visitors will head into the game seeking to complete a first-ever league double over Os Acoreanos after claiming a 2-1 victory when the sides met back in December's reverse fixture.
Match preview
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Santa Clara were involved in a share of the spoils for the third game on the bounce last Sunday when they played out a 1-1 draw away to Vitoria de Guimaraes.
In a cagey affair at the Dom Afonso Henriques, Oscar Estupinan struck in the 32nd minute to put the hosts in front heading into half time but Allano converted his 55th-minute penalty to ensure the honours were shared.
Santa Clara are now winless in all but one of their last seven outings — picking up five draws and losing one — with a 2-0 victory over Estoril Praia on April 10 being the only exception.
With 37 points from 32 games so far, Mario Silva's men are currently 10th in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with Maritimo and Boavista and one point off Sunday's visitors in seventh place.
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Meanwhile, Pacos de Ferreira failed to find their feet last time out when they could only settle for a somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw with 16th-placed Tondela at the Capital do Movel Municipal Stadium.
Despite being on the back foot for most of the game, Salvador Agra put the visitors ahead against the run of play in the 32nd minute, but substitute Lucas Silva struck in the 92nd minute to force a share of the spoils.
Pacos de Ferreira have now failed to taste victory in any of their last three outings, picking up two points from a possible nine since their 2-0 home victory over Maritimo on April 9.
While Cesar Peixoto's side will be looking to end this dry spell, next up is an opposing side who are unbeaten at home since last December, picking up six wins and four draws in 10 games since a 3-0 loss to league leaders Porto back in November.
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Team News
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Santa Clara will take to the pitch without the services of Portuguese midfielder Costinha, who has been sidelined since last August through an Achilles tendon injury.
He is joined on Os Acoreanos' injury table by veteran goalkeeper Marco Pereira, who is set to sit out his second consecutive game, meaning Ricardo Fernandes should start in goal for just the fourth time this season.
Pacos de Ferreira's injury list is more hefty by comparison as the likes of Joao Vigario, Jorge Silva and N'Dri Philippe Koffi have all been ruled out from this weekend's encounter.
Peixoto will also be unable to call upon the Brazilian duo of Flavio Ramos and Maracas, who are recuperating from muscle and ankle injuries respectively.
Former Atletico Madrid midfielder Nicolas Gaitan also misses out for the Pacenses after picking up a muscle problem in the 2-0 loss to Sporting Lisbon on April 3.
Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Ferreira; Antunes, Lima, Maracas, Delgado; Carlos, Pires, Santos; Ferreira, Uilton, Butzke
Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Sagna, Villanueva, Boateng, Mansur; Carvalho, Nene; Costa, Ricardinho, Allano; Tagawa
We say: Santa Clara 2-1 Pacos de Ferreira
Santa Clara head into the weekend unbeaten at home since the start of December and will be backing themselves to keep this fine run going as they take on a floundering Pacos de Ferreira side. While we expect the Pacenses to put up a fight, we predict Santa Clara will come away with all three points in this one.
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats, suggests the most likely outcome of this match is a Santa Clara win with a probability of 54.16%. A draw has a probability of 23.8% and a win for Pacos de Ferreira has a probability of 22.03%.
The most likely scoreline is Santa Clara 1-1 Pacos de Ferreira with a probability of 11.31% and the second most likely scoreline is Santa Clara 1-0 Pacos de Ferreira with a probability of 11.22%.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
