Fresh off the back of picking up contrasting results in the Taca de Portugal, Boavista play host to Moreirense at the Estadio do Bessa in round nine of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Saturday.
Having failed to taste victory in the last six meetings between the two teams since June 2020, Os verdes e brancos will head into the weekend looking to get one over the hosts and make it three wins from three across all competitions.
Match preview
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Boavista were condemned to another early exit from the Taca de Portugal as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Segunda Liga outfit Varzim at the Estadio do Varzim Sport Club last Sunday.
Following a goalless first half, Nigerian striker Morufdeen Moshood came up trumps for Varzim as he netted the only goal of the game to inspire the home side to a hard-fought 1-0 victory and send them through to the fourth round.
Boavista became one of just three Primeira Liga to crash out of the Taca de Portugal at the first hurdle, following Estoril Praia and Nacional, who suffered defeat against Lusitano Evora and Uniao Leiria respectively.
This was in keeping with their struggles in the league, where Cristiano Bacci's men have failed to win their most recent seven matches, losing four and claiming three draws since kicking off the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Casa Pia on August 10.
Having finished 17th in the table last season, only above the drop zone on goal difference, Boavista have managed just six points from their first eight games this term to sit 14th in the league table, level on points with 15th-placed Estoril.
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Moreirense, on the other hand, were made to work their socks off in the Taca de Portugal as they fought back from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over third-tier Uniao Santarem at the Campo Cha das Padeiras last weekend.
In a game where Diogo Bras received his marching orders, Bernardo Martins netted in the 20th minute to cancel out Pedro Araujo's opener and end the first half level, before Guilherme Schettine struck in the 50th minute to complete the comeback.
Cesar Peixoto's men now turn their focus to the Primeira Liga, where they snapped their five-game winless run on October 5 with a 1-0 victory over Santa Clara courtesy of a second-half strike from Martins at the Parque Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.
Moreirense have picked up three wins and two draws from their eight games to start the season, claiming 11 points from a possible 24 to sit eighth in the table, but could move level on points with fifth-placed Braga with a win this weekend.
However, Os verdes e brancos go up against an opposing side whom they have failed to get the better of in each of their last six encounters, losing four and claiming two draws since a 1-0 victory in June 2020.
While Moreirense will be looking to end this poor run, results away from home offer little optimism as they have lost each of their most recent three games on their travels, conceding eight goals and scoring three since August's 2-1 win at Farense.
Team News
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Boavista remain without the services of first-choice goalkeeper Joao Goncalves, who has missed each of the last five matches through a knee injury.
He is joined on the club's injury table by 19-year-old Morales Pires, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining an ACL injury back in November 2023.
As for Moreirense, Peixoto will be unable to call upon Portuguese forward Hernani Infande, who has been out of action since sustaining a severe injury in March's game against Arouca.
Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Liberato has missed the last four matches through a knee injury while defender Alhassane Sylla continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
With his equaliser against Uniao Santarem, Martins has fought the back of the net in back-to-back games and the 26-year-old midfielder could be rewarded with his first league start of the campaign.
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Cesar; Gomes; Abascal, Onyemaechi, Ferreira; Silva, Camara, Perez; Vukotic, Bozenik, Agra
Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Fabiano, Marcelo, Ponck, Frimpong; Ofori, Ismael; Santos, Alanzinho, Gabrielzinho; Asue
We say: Boavista 0-1 Moreirense
After weeks of mediocre results, Moreirense have turned a corner of late and will head into the weekend looking to make it three wins from three across all competitions.
Boavista, on the other hand, have failed to get going this season, and while they boast a solid home record in this fixture, we see them struggling this weekend once again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
