Two mid-table teams separated by two points will clash in gameweek 20 of the Primeira Liga season when Gil Vicente host Estoril Praia at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on Saturday.
The home side come into this match having seen their eight-match unbeaten streak come to a surprise end last time out, whereas a resurgent Estoril side are chasing their best run of league form for more than a decade.
Match preview
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Gil Vicente were unbeaten in the league since December, claiming three wins and four draws, in a run that saw them take points off runaway league leaders Sporting Lisbon and a famous win over Porto in gameweek 19.
However, the Roosters could not build on that result, being brought back down to earth with a 1-0 defeat against relegation-threatened AVS in their last league outing at the Estadio Clube Desportivo das Aves.
That defeat marked their sixth loss in 10 fixtures on the road, but it is a different story at home, where Gil Vicente have not lost since early November, and where they have picked up 16 of their 22 points this season.
Indeed, only four teams in the entire league have picked up more points than the Gilistas in front of their own fans, while their tally of just one defeat on home turf all season is bettered only by the as-yet unbeaten Porto.
Those home fans were royally entertained the last time Estoril came to town too, with the corresponding fixture last season proving to be one of the best games of the entire campaign as Gil Vicente ran out 5-3 winners.
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However, 2025 appears to have brought with it a very different Estoril side, with Ian Cathro's previously relegation-threatened men having enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in form since the turn of the year.
After winning just one league game in November and December combined, Estoril won all three of their outings in January and could this weekend make it four successive top-flight victories for the first time since March 2014.
The Canaries' recent form has catapulted them away from danger and into the top half of the table, and worryingly for Gil Vicente this weekend, it is away from home where their improvement has been the most pronounced.
Having failed to win any of their 16 away league games throughout 2024, Estoril have won two out of two this calendar year, meaning that they have already picked up more away league wins in 2025 than they did in 2023 and 2024 combined.
Another victory this weekend would see Cathro's team claim three straight wins on the road for the first time since September 2021, and could lift them a comfortable 12 points clear of the automatic relegation zone.
Alongside their new-found form on the road, the Lisbon-based side have seen an upsurge in goals on their travels, having scored seven in those two wins – three more than the total tally in their previous seven fixtures outside the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota.
Team News
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Gil Vicente did not record any injury in their loss against AVS, leaving Yaya Sithole, who is sidelined with a Tibia and fibula fracture, as the only absentee.
New signings Sergio Bermejo and Carlos Eduardo are available for selection and they could be part of the starting XI if Bruno Pinheiro decides to tinker with his team.
Up front, Tidjany Toure, Pablo and Felix Correia, the latter of whom has scored five goals this term, should form the front three.
For the visitors, Ian Cathro has almost a fully fit squad to choose from, but Kevin Boma, who is suffering from a sprained ankle will not be in consideration - in his absence, Eliaquim Mangala is expected to start in defence.
Having missed their last league outing, Alejandro Marques could return to the starting XI as part of the attacking trio.
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Cruz, Fernandes, Sa, Carlos; Fujimoto, Gbane, Caseres; Toure, Pablo, Correia
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Robles; Alvaro, Mangala, Bacher; Amaral, Pina, Xeka, Holsgrove; Lacximicant, Marques, Carvalho
We say: Gil Vicente 1-2 Estoril Praia
Estoril's resurgence in form so far this year has been quite remarkable, and while home teams would have previously viewed the visit of the notoriously-bad travellers as a welcome one, suddenly they look like a dangerous and free-scoring outfit on their travels.
Away clean sheets are still a rarity for Estoril - they have kept only two in their last 20 on the road - and Gil Vicente have proven themselves a very difficult team to beat at home this season, but the visitors are riding the crest of a wave at the moment and we expect that momentum to carry them to another victory, extending their perplexing yet perfect start to 2025.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
