Vizela will be looking to record only their second victory of the Primeira Liga term when they welcome Portimonense to Estadio Do Vizela on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts have been hindered by a real lack of consistency at the beginning of the campaign, and the same can be said for Portimonense, with both sides level on points heading into this clash.
Match preview
© Reuters
Vizela return to their Estadio Do Vizela home this weekend following a very eventful outing in the Primeira Liga last Saturday, when they forced a share of the spoils with Estoril Praia.
Vizelense found themselves behind twice at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota due to goals from Rafik Guitane and then Bernardo Vital, but a 111th-minute equaliser from substitute Dylan Saint-Louis stole a valuable point for the visitors.
Pablo Villar's side have collected four points from their opening three home games this term, with a 1-0 success against Gil Vicente on September 1 representing the club's only victory of the league campaign to date.
Despite facing a tricky start to the season as they faced the likes of Sporting Lisbon and Benfica, Vizela have managed to earn five points from their opening six contests, meaning they sit 13th in the Primeira Liga standings.
Samuel Essende will be hoping to provide some magic at the top end of the field to secure his side's first-tier safety this term - the Caen loanee has netted three goals in six league outings so far.
© Reuters
Portimonense were unable to extend their unbeaten run in the Primeira Liga to four matches last weekend, falling to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of title-challengers Benfica.
Alexander Bah put the visitors ahead at Estadio Municipal de Portimao after just five minutes and Roger Schmidt's men commenced their domination of possession, but the hosts will rue a missed penalty from Brazilian Rido which would have levelled the scores at 2-2 in the second period.
Saturday's visitors have been wildly inconsistent on their travels so far this term, with a 5-0 thrashing at Gil Vicente on the opening day of the campaign being followed by a 2-1 success at Vitoria de Guimaraes almost a fortnight ago.
Paulo Sergio is guiding Portimonense through his third-full season as head coach, and the 55-year-old will be planning a marked improvement from their uninspiring 15th-placed finish in 2022-23, however his men are currently 16th in the standings after six games.
Portimonense have a poor recent record against Vizela, having failed to win any of their last five meetings with Villar's charges, and you have to go back to October 2016 for their last triumph over Saturday's visitors.
Team News
© Reuters
Vizela are set to be without the services of Ukrainian Orest Lebedenko for Saturday afternoon's match, with the left-back preparing for several weeks on the sidelines after picking up a foot injury earlier this month.
The absence of one defender has led to an opportunity for another, with Matheus Pereira now ready for an extended spell on the left side of the hosts' backline.
Last weekend's added-time saviour Saint-Louis could be rewarded with a starting berth this time around, meaning Alberto Soro or Matias Lacava may be forced to settle for a place on the bench.
Portimonense are expected to make a change in their engine room on the weekend after Paulo Estrela hobbled off with a knock in the loss against Benfica, with veteran Mauricio a potential partner for Dener Clemente and captain Carlinhos in the middle of the park.
Igor Marques was substituted at half-time during the defeat to Schmidt's men, and 19-year-old Guga could be handed only his third-ever Primeira Liga start on the right side of the visitors' back five.
Vizela possible starting lineup:
Buntic; Silva, Wilson, Anderson, Pereira; Bunsic, Samu, Moreira, Saint-Louis, Lacava; Essende
Portimonense possible starting lineup:
Vinicius; Henrique, Alemao, Relvas; Guga, Carlinhos, Mauricio, Estrela, Costa; Varela, Jasper
We say: Vizela 1-2 Portimonense
Vizela will be full of confidence following their added-time equaliser at Estoril last time out, but Villar's men have struggled to pick up regular wins at home so far this term.
Portimonense come into this clash after tough tests against Vitoria and Benfica, and we believe such challenges have left the visitors capable of collecting all three points at Estadio Do Vizela on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
