Round 33 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga comes to a close on Monday when Belenenses and Famalicao go head to head at the Estadio do Restelo.

O Belem, who are currently rooted to the bottom of the league standings, will be seeking to get one over the visitors, having failed to win any of the last five meetings between the sides.

Match preview

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Belenenses' hopes of beating the drop took yet another blow as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of fourth-placed Braga when the sides squared off last Saturday.

Despite putting in an impressive defensive display to keep the scores level entering the final minutes of the game, Ricardo Horta came up clutch for Carlos Carvalhal's men as he grabbed a dramatic 90th-minute winner.

Prior to that, Franclim Carvalho's side were on a run of three games without defeat on home turf, picking up two wins and one draw since a 2-0 defeat against Pacos de Ferreira on February 25.

With 25 points from 32 games, Belenenses are rock bottom in the league standings, two points below Tondela in the relegation playoff spot and five off 15th-placed Arouca in safety.

While O Belem need to win their final two games of the season to keep their slim survival chances alive, next up is an opposing side who they have failed to beat in any of their previous five attempts, losing three and claiming two draws since 2019.

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Elsewhere, Famalicao returned to winning ways in style when they saw off Estoril Praia 3-1 at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao last Friday.

Adrian Marin and Heriberto Tavares put the hosts in a comfortable lead before Rui Fonte pulled one back for the Canarinhos in the 68th minute, but substitute Junior Kadile restored the Vila Nova's two-goal lead with a 94th-minute strike.

Prior to that, Famalicao were on a seven-game winless run, picking up four draws and losing three games while scoring four goals and shipping six in that time.

Rui Silva's side have now won seven games this season, while picking up 12 draws and losing 13 of their 32 outings to collect 33 points and sit in 13th place in the league standings.

While Famalicao will be looking to pick up successive victories for the first time since February, they have struggled to get going on the road, where they are currently on a four-game winless run and have managed just one win since last November.

Team News

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Belenenses will take to the pitch without the duo of Sandro and Sphephelo Sithole, who picked up straight reds in the game against Braga last Saturday.

On the injury front, Brazilian forward Safira is a major doubt for Monday's encounter after coming off with a 27th-minute injury in the aforementioned game.

Alioune Ndour also misses out after picking up an injury in February's game against Pacos de Ferreira, while 23-year-old Tomas Castro is currently recuperating from a knee injury.

As for Famalicao, Silva will be unable to call upon 32-year-old defender Ruben Lima, who has been out of action since January through a muscle problem.

He is joined on the Vila Nova injury table by fellow countryman David Tavares, who continues his journey to full fitness after suffering an ACL injury.

While Joao Carlos Teixeira returned from his injury lay-off against Estoril Praia last time out, Spanish midfielder Ivan Jamie has been ruled out through a knee injury.

Belenenses possible starting lineup:
Felipe; Carraca, Henriques, Tavares, Calila; Braima, Teixeira, Sousa; Camacho, Lica, Baraye

Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Riccieli, Alex, Penetra; Fuente, Assuncao, Pepe, Marin; Tavares, Banza, Rodrigues

We say: Belenenses 2-1 Famalicao

Needing a win to keep their survival hopes alive, we expect Belenenses to come out with guns blazing on Monday and take the game to the visitors. Famalicao's struggles for results on the road make the hosts slight favourites and we predict O Belem will take the positives from their defeat to Braga and grind out the win.

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