Seeking to pick up consecutive home victories in the Primeira Liga for the first time this season, Vizela lock horns with Maritimo at the Estadio do FC Vizela on Sunday.

O Maior das Ilhas, meanwhile, will be looking to complete a first league double over the hosts after claiming a 2-0 victory back in December's reverse fixture.

Match preview

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Vizela were sent crashing back down to earth last Saturday when they fell to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of title-chasing Porto at the Estadio do Dragao.

After goals from Evanilson and Mehdi Taremi put the Dragoes ahead, Alex Mendez and Nuno Moreira struck to level matters, but Chancel Mbemba put the league leaders ahead with a 57th-minute strike before Taremi added his second of the game in the the 87th minute to put the result beyond doubt.

Prior to that, Alvaro Pacheco's side claimed a 2-1 victory over Arouca when the sides squared off on April 22 which saw their run of two successive defeats come to an end.

With 32 points from 32 games, the Vizelenses are currently 14th in the Primeira Liga standings, five points above 16th-placed Tondela in the relegation playoff spot.

While Vizela will be looking to make it two straight home wins for the first time this season, next up is an opposing side who they have failed to beat in each of the previous two meetings between the sides, suffering defeat on both occasions.

Maritimo, on the other hand, continue to struggle for form as they fell to a slender 1-0 loss at the hands of third-placed Benfica when the sides met last Saturday.

In a game where Claudio Winck received his marching orders, Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez was on target once again as he scored the only goal of the game inside the opening two minutes.

Vasco Seabra's side are now winless in all but one of their last seven outings — picking up two draws and losing four — with a 4-0 thrashing of Boavista on April 16 being the only exception.

Maritimo have won nine, drawn 10 and lost 13 of their 32 games this season to collect 37 points and sit eighth in the league standings, level on points with ninth-placed Boavista and 10th-placed Santa Clara.

With two games left to play before the season draws to a close, O Maior das Ilhas will be eyeing their first top-half finish since the 2017-2018 campaign where they finished seventh in the table.

Team News

Claudemir was forced off injured just 23 minutes into the game against Porto last time out and the Brazilian midfielder is a major doubt for Vizela.

In his absence, Raphael Guzzo could come in for his seventh starting appearance of the season, teaming up with Samu and Mendez at the centre of the park.

Thirty-three-year-old midfielder Marcus Paulo is also set to sit out his seventh straight game through injury, while Bruno Wilson is currently recuperating from a muscle problem.

As for Maritimo, Winck will play no part in Sunday's game after the 28-year-old defender received his marching orders against Benfica last Saturday.

In the absence of Winck, who has missed just two league games this season, Matheus Costa could drift to the right side of the back four, with Leo coming into the XI to team up with Zainadine Junior at the heart of the defence.

Vizela possible starting lineup:
Silva; Juliao, Anderson, Fernandes, Ofori; Guzzo, Samu, Mendez; Bondoso, Schettine, Moreira

Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Victor; M Costa, Junior, Leo, V Costa; Beltrame, Rossi; Guitane, Vidigal, E Costa; Tagueu

We say: Vizela 1-1 Maritimo

While a win will secure Vizela's survival, a draw could see them move six points above 16th-placed Tondela in the relegation playoff spot. Maritimo are also in a heated race for a top-half finish this season and we expect them to take the game to the hosts. We predict the sides will cancel out each other's efforts and settle for a point apiece.

Written by
Joshua Ojele

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