An important mid-table battle is set to get this weekend's Primeira Liga action underway, with SC Farense taking on Estrela Amadora at Estadio de Sao Luis on Friday evening.
The hosts are currently in eighth place in the league standings with 17 points after the first 13 matches, while the visitors are ninth and just two points behind their opponents.
Match preview
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After a two-season hiatus from the top flight, Farense have made a very positive return to the Primeira Liga and look well on their way to reestablishing themselves as a genuine top-flight contender.
The Lions of Faro will come into this match with good confidence after a steely performance where they managed to hold the defending league champions Benfica to a 1-1 draw last week at Estadio da Luz.
Claudio Falcao opened the scoring against the Eagles five minutes after the break, and despite Rafa levelling proceedings fairly soon after that, Benfica were unable to find the go-ahead goal that would have kept them at the top of the league standings.
Farense will now return to Estadio de Sao Luis, where they have taken eight points from a possible 21 this season and will be looking to extend their three-match unbeaten record against this opponent.
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Meanwhile, after years of financial difficulty that included withdrawal from professional competition, Estrela have continued their progression and are right on the tails of their fellow newly promoted rivals leading up to the midway point of the season.
The Tricolours have recorded four wins, three draws and six losses in their 13 league matches this season and are five points clear of Chaves, who currently sit in the relegation playoff spot at the bottom of the league.
Sergio Vieira's side earned a much-needed 3-1 win over Boavista last weekend to snap up a four-match winless streak in all competition, which included a fourth-round loss to Boavista in the Taca de Portugal at the end of last month.
Against Boavista, Leo Jaba and Kikas found the net either side of a Martim Tavares strike, while Rodrigo Abascal scored an own goal to give Estrela their fourth top-flight victory of the season.
However, the visitors have failed to win their last two visits to this venue in the Segunda Liga in the previous two seasons and have managed just one away win in the Primeira Liga this term, which suggests that they may find it difficult to secure all three points in this one.
Team News
Farense will be able to welcome back Fabricio Isidoro for this match after the midfielder was forced to sit out last week for the red card he received against Vitoria Guimaraes a week earlier.
After a positive performance against Benfica, Falcao should retain his spot in the engine room alongside Vitor Goncalves, while Mattheus Oliveira seems to have shaken off his knock and should continue as the furthest-forward midfielder.
Estrela may be able to see the return of Bruno Brigido in this match, although the midfielder may have to settle for a spot on the bench following his extended absence from the first team due to a muscle injury.
Leo Jaba marked his return to the team with a goal last week following a one-match ban and should continue in the three-man attack along with the Brazilian duo of Ronald and Andre Silva.
SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Velho; Pastor, Silva, Muscat, Talocha; Falcao, Goncalves; Matias, Mattheus, Belloumi; Duarte
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Dida; Santos, Almeida, Gaspar; Felipe, Emanuel, Cordeiro, Reis; Pereira, Jaba, Silva
We say: SC Farense 1-1 Estrela Amadora
Both these sides have made positive starts to life back in the top flight and would have had this fixture circled as one in which they could earn all three points. This is arguably one of the most even contests in the Primeira Liga this weekend, and we feel there will be nothing to separate these sides at the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
