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Arouca
Primeira Liga | Gameweek 17
Jan 20, 2023 at 7pm UK
Estádio Municipal de Arouca
Portimonense

Arouca
4 - 0
Portimonense

Dabbagh (6', 76'), Ruiz (32'), Michel (79')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Luquinhas (13'), Seck (27'), Pedrao (34'), Ouattara (49')

Preview: Arouca vs. Portimonense - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Primeira Liga clash between Arouca and Portimonense, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Arouca could move up to sixth place in the Primeira Liga table by beating Portimonense at Estadio Municipal on Friday evening.

The visitors, meanwhile, would leapfrog their opponents into seventh spot with an away victory.


Match preview

Arouca's Mateus Quaresma is shown a red card by referee Manuel Mota on August 5, 2022© Reuters

Having survived relegation in their first season back in Portugal's top tier last time out, Arouca appear to have larger aims this time around having gained 23 points from 16 matches ahead of their next match on Friday.

Armando Evangelista remains a popular figure at the club having guided them to promotion with a stunning 5-0 aggregate win against Rio Ave in the promotion playoffs, before keeping them two points clear of facing that same two-legged affair - albeit from the reverse situation - at the end of last season.

Arouquenses were unfortunate to be drawn away to Porto in the last 16 of the Taca da Liga, with the league champions running out comfortable 4-0 winners, but Evangelista's side bounced back with a creditable 1-1 draw away to Chaves last weekend.

Joao Othavio Basso's late penalty ensured that Arouca remained ahead of their opponents in the table, with chasing down Casa Pia AC in fifth position and qualifying for Europe for only the second time in the club's history perhaps a realistic ambition for the rest of the campaign.

Benfica's Fredrik Aursnes in action with Portimonense's Fahd Moufi on January 6, 2023© Reuters

Portimonense, meanwhile, are continuing to stabilise themselves in the Portugal Primeira Liga, with this season representing their sixth consecutive appearance in their nation's top division.

Alvinegros were fortunate to avoid relegation after finishing second-from-bottom in the 2019-20 campaign, with Vitoria de Setubal demoted instead of them due to licensing issues.

Former Sporting boss Paulo Sergio has remained in charge throughout the process since, surviving relegation by a solitary point in the following season before steering the club nine points clear of danger last time around.

As such, Sergio's side are not expected to be in any real trouble this season, but a winless run of four matches ahead of their trip to Arouca on Friday has seen them drop to 12th in the table, with only six points separating them from Santa Clara in the bottom three.

Arouca Primeira Liga form:


Arouca form (all competitions):


Portimonense Primeira Liga form:


Portimonense form (all competitions):



Team News

Portimonense's Gustavo Klismahn reacts after sustaining an injury on January 6, 2023© Reuters

Arouca will be without Jerome Opoku through suspension after the central defender received a straight red card in injury-time during their 1-1 draw against Chaves last weekend.

Nino Galovic is the most likely candidate to replace the former Fulham defender at the heart of Evangelista's back line, with the 49-year-old unlikely to make any other changes given that he appears to have no injury issues restricting his selection.

Portimonense, on the other hand, will travel without Carlinhos and their captain Pedro Sa due to injuries, while Gustavo Klismahn is a doubt after being substituted during his side's 0-0 draw against Santa Clara last week.

Luquinha could replace the 23-year-old on the right flank, with Sergio likely to be weighing up other attacking changes given that his side could not break down their opponents, who played with one man fewer for over an hour after seeing Pierre Sagna sent off after only 28 minutes.

Arouca possible starting lineup:
De Arruabarrena; Esgaio, Basso, Galovic, Quaresma; Soro, Simao; Sylla, Ruiz, Antony; Dabagh

Portimonense possible starting lineup:
Nakamura; Moufi, Henrique, Relvas, Seck; Luquinha, Estrela, Diaby, Ouattara; Junior, Cariello


SM words green background

We say: Arouca 1-1 Portimonense

Both sides will be pleased with their respective campaigns so far, and there is unlikely to be much splitting them on the day.

As such, we would not be surprised if a share of the spoils is the ultimate outcome, which would prolong Portimonense's winless streak.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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Written by
Brett Curtis

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Game History

How you voted: Arouca vs Portimonense

Arouca
72.4%
Draw
20.7%
Portimonense
6.9%
29
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sporting Lisbon15121243103337
2Porto1512123692737
3Benfica1411213482635
4Braga1584327161128
5Santa ClaraSanta Clara159061615127
6Vitoria de GuimaraesGuimaraes146441814422
7Casa Pia155551618-220
8MoreirenseMoreirense156271922-320
9FamalicaoFamalicao154741817119
10Gil Vicente154561724-717
11Rio AveRio Ave144461525-1016
12Estoril PraiaEstoril143561221-914
13AVS152761122-1113
14BoavistaBoavista152671019-912
15Nacional14338819-1112
16Estrela Amadora143381224-1212
17SC FarenseFarense15339921-1212
18AroucaArouca153210926-1711


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