Gil Vicente will be looking to make it five straight games without defeat on home turf this season when they play host to Boavista in round 10 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday.
Os Axadrezados journey to the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos where they have lost each of their last three visits since August 2021 and will head into the weekend looking to end this poor run.
Match preview
© Imago
Gil Vicente were denied a third win on the bounce for the first time since April 2021 as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Santa Clara at the Estadio de Sao Miguel last Friday.
Santi Garcia found the back of the net to pull the visitors level after Sidney Lima opened the scoring in the 13th minute, but Diogo Calila found the back of the net to put Os Acorianos ahead for the second time in the game.
Prior to that, Gil Vicente cruised to a 3-0 home victory over Estrela Amadora in the Primeira Liga on October 5, two weeks before seeing off third-tier Belenenses 2-0 in the Taca de Portugal third round courtesy of goals from Tidjani Toure and Jorge Aguirre.
With last Friday's result against Santa Clara, Bruno Pinheiro's men have failed to win six of their last seven league matches, losing twice and claiming four draws while conceding 10 goals and scoring seven since August's 4-2 win victory over AVS.
Gil Vicente will be backing themselves to return to find their feet this weekend as they are unbeaten in each of their last six home games, picking up three wins and three draws since April's 4-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon.
© Imago
Boavista, on the other hand, continue to struggle for results at the bottom end of the Primeira Liga standings as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Moreirense at the Estadio do Bessa last Saturday.
Brazilian forward Guilherme Schettine found the back of the net for the second straight game with a 20th-minute strike to put Moreirense in front before fellow countryman Gabrielzinho put the result beyond reach in the second minute of stoppage time.
This followed a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Varzim at the Estadio do Varzim SC on October 20, when 20-year-old striker Morufdeen Moshood scored the only goal of the game in the 51st minute to send the Segunda Liga outfit through to the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal.
Since kicking off the season with a 1-0 victory over Casa Pia on August 19, Cristiano Bacci's men have failed to win any of their subsequent nine outings across all competitions, losing six and claiming three draws while conceding 13 goals and scoring four in that time.
With just six points from their nine games to start the Primeira Liga campaign, Boavista are currently 15th in the standings, just two points above rock-bottom Farense and four adrift of Saturday's visitors in 10th place.
Team News
© Imago
Gil Vicente will have to cope without South Africa international Sphephelo Sithole, who is set to sit out his seventh straight game since picking up an injury on international duty versus South Sudan in September.
He is joined in the Gilistas' injury table by 23-year-old midfielder Facundo Caseres, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a meniscus injury back in April.
Garcia, who joined from Getafe in the summer, opened his account in the Primeira Liga with his equaliser against Santa Clara last time out and the Spanish midfielder could retain his role in the centre of the park.
As for Boavista, Bacci will be unable to name first-choice goalkeeper Joao Goncalves, who has missed each of the last six games since picking up a knee injury against Estoril Praia on August 31.
He is joined on the club's injury table by Morales Pires, who is also currently recuperating from a knee injury, while 26-year-old forward Manuel Namora has been sidelined since picking up an injury in August.
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Ze Carlos, Mananga, Fernandes, Cruz; Fujimoto, Garcia, Castillo; Mboula, Caue, Correia
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Cesar; Gomes, Abascal, Ferreira, Onyemaechi; Silva, Perez, Camara, Reisinho, Agra; Bozenik
We say: Gil Vicente 2-1 Boavista
Off the back of a narrow defeat against Santa Clara, Gil Vicente will head into the weekend looking to bounce back and maintain their fine run of results on home turf.
Boavista's form is currently nothing to write home about, and while we expect them to put up a fight at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos, we fancy the home side to come out on top.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
