Bovista set out in search of their first Primeira Liga home win when they go head to head with SC Farense in round 13 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Sunday.
As for the Leoes de Faro, they journey to the Estadio do Bessa looking to end their run of four back-to-back defeats against the home side and make it three wins on the spin for the first time since September 2023.
Match preview
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Boavista were denied consecutive Primeira Liga away wins for the first time since September 2023 as they played out a goalless draw with Nacional at the Estadio da Madeira last Saturday.
A total of 31 shots were fired in the game, but with both sides failing to tuck away their chances, neither goalkeeper would end up picking ball out of the back of the net, with a draw being a fair result upon reflection.
Before that, Boavista snapped their run of nine consecutive matches without a win in all competitions on November 2, when they edged out Gil Vicente 2-1 at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos, one week before crashing down to earth in a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Rio Ave.
While Cristiano Bacci's men have been decent on the road, where they have picked up one win and two draws from their last three games, they now return home, where they are the only side yet to taste victory this season, picking up just one point from their five matches so far.
Boavista have lost six of their 12 Primeira Liga matches so far while claiming two wins and four draws to collect 10 points and sit 13th in the standings, level on points with Gil Vicente and newcomers AVS.
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On the other hand, Farense picked up three huge points on their push from the bottom end of the league table as they picked up a 1-0 victory over Estrela Amadora last weekend.
Spanish forward Dario Poveda continued his fine form in front of goal as he netted the only goal of the game midway through the first half to condemn Estrela to their seventh league defeat of the season.
This followed a 2-1 victory over Arouca at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca on November 23, when Poveda and Elves Balde found the back of the net to send the Farense through to the fifth round of the Taca de Portugal.
Having finished 10th in the Primeira Liga table last season, Toze Marreco's men have picked up eight points from their 12 Primeira Liga matches so far to sit bottom but one in the table, only above last-placed Arouca on goal difference.
Farense will be backing themselves to make it three wins on the trot for the first time since returning to the top flight in May 2023 as they take on an opposing side who have lost each of their last four games, conceding nine goals and scoring just twice since November 2020.
Team News
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Having missed the game against Nacional through suspension, Sebastian Perez should return the fold, teaming up with Joel Silva, Ilija Vukotic and Salvador Agra in the centre of the park.
At the defensive end of the pitch, we should see a back four of Pedro Gomes, Rodrigo Abascal, Filipe Ferreira and Bruno Onyemaechi, shielding Cesar Dutra between the sticks.
On the injury front, Os Axadrezados will take to the pitch without the duo of Morales Pires and goalkeeper Joao Goncalves, who have been ruled out through knee problems.
As for Farense, Marreco will be unable to name veteran forward Tomane, who has missed each of the last eight matches since picking up an injury back in September.
He is joined on the club's injury table by 25-year-old midfielder Filipe Soares, who is set to sit out his eighth straight game since coming off injured against AVS on September 30.
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Cesar; Gomes, Abascal, Ferreira, Onyemaechi; J Silva, Vukotic, Perez, Agra; Bozenik, Reisinho
SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Velho; Africo, Falcao, Moreno, Pastor; Neto, Menino, Victor; Matias, Poveda, Balde
We say: Boavista 2-1 SC Farense
Looking at previous meetings between Boavista and Farense, we anticipate a thrilling matchup at the Estadio do Bessa as both sides look to continue their surge into the top half of the table. Boavista have struggled to impose themselves at home but we are tipping them to come away with all three points here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
