Gil Vicente seek a third consecutive Primeira Liga victory on Sunday when they take on a Sporting Lisbon side still adapting to life after Ruben Amorim in the competition's 15th gameweek.
Despite claiming wins over Boavista (3-2) and Santa Clara (2-1), the Lions remain unconvincing, needing extra time in the latter success, and they hope to avoid coming unstuck against an opponent that have been hard to beat at Estadio Cidade de Barcelos this term (one loss in six).
Match preview
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When Gil Vicente take to the pitch on Sunday, they will do so aware of the defending champions' ongoing struggle to secure victories post-Amorim.
Bruno Pinheiro hopes his players will exploit any weakness shown by the table-topping side, as they are keen to notch a third Liga triumph on the trot following victories over Nacional (2-1) and bottom side Farense (1-0).
Galos last achieved this feat in April 2021 when they defeated Vitoria Guimaraes (4-2), Nacional (2-0) and Rio Ave (2-0), and the hosts hope their commendable home results, allied with Sporting's dip in performance, raise optimism in Barcelos.
The fans could play a pivotal part in how this weekend plays out, given the home side's wretched sequence of results against Sporting: nine losses and one draw in the previous 10 encounters.
Despite that miserable run, Galos will welcome a chance to inflict a first defeat against the Lions in this fixture since December 2019 (3-1), when Silas was still in situ in Lisbon.
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Aiming to avoid that outcome, Joao Pereira hopes midweek extra-time exertions in the 2-1 cup success over Santa Clara do not prevent his side from clinching a third win on the trot.
The recent victories over Boavista and Santa Clara followed a four-match losing run in all competitions, immediately raising doubts over Amorim's replacement, with the prior Primeira Liga losing run seeing Benfica cut Leoes' advantage atop the standings to one point.
The Green and Whites have the advantage of playing before their second-placed rivals, who are not in action until Monday against Estoril.
However, third-placed Porto, two points adrift of the defending champions, could have leapfrogged Sporting before Sunday, with Vitor Bruno's men favourites to claim maximum points at Moreirense on Saturday.
Depending on that outcome, Pereira's team could need three points on Sunday to avoid going into Christmas having lost top spot in the standings, a situation that seemed unlikely after Amorim departed for Manchester United in November.
Team News
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Jorge Aguirre could replace Caue at centre-forward on Sunday, with the attacker suspended after his late sending-off at Farense.
Galos have a fairly healthy squad, with Sphephelo Sithole (broken leg) the home side's only reported absentee before welcoming the Lisbon giants.
Ricardo Esgaio and Jeremiah St Juste were sent off in the Taca de Portugal victory against Santa Clara, thus ruling both out for Sporting this weekend.
Although Goncalo Inacio is doubtful, missing through injury are Pedro Goncalves (muscle), Nuno Santos (tendon), Daniel Braganca (muscle) and Hidemasa Morita (thigh).
After scoring once in four games under Pereira, Viktor Gyokeres has found the back of the net in consecutive games against Boavista in the Liga and Santa Clara in the Portuguese Cup and seeks to add to his 18 top-flight goals in gameweek 15's clash.
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Carlos, Sa, Fernandes, Cruz; Fujimoto, Gbane, Garcia; Correia, Aguirre, Mboula
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Israel; Debast, Diomande, Reis; Catamo, Simoes, Hjulmand, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres, Quenda
We say: Gil Vicente 1-2 Sporting Lisbon
Although both sides have claimed consecutive wins lately, Gil Vicente have defeated opponents in the competition's bottom five, while Sporting have made hard work of the league win over Boavista and cup success over Santa Clara.
While a draw could play out this weekend, Gyokeres' seeming return to goalscoring form could determine Sunday's outcome, thus seeing us back the Lions for success at Galos' expense.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
