Pacos de Ferreira will be looking to pick up their first win of the new Primeira Liga campaign when they play host to Arouca at the Capital do Movel Municipal Stadium on Sunday.
The Arouquenses will set out to get one over the home side, having failed to win any of the last six meetings between the teams since November 2016.
Match preview
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Pacos de Ferreira were denied their first win of the season in their most recent outing as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw against Santa Clara when the sides squared off two Saturdays ago.
After falling behind to Gabriel Silva's seventh-minute strike, Portuguese teenager Matchoi Djalo netted eight minutes after the first-half break to force a share of the spoils at the Estadio de Sao Miguel.
The Pacenses were previously on a run of eight consecutive defeats across all competitions, including each of their opening six league games, dating back to a 1-0 friendly win over Santa Clara on July 20.
With just one point from a possible 21, Cesar Peixoto's side are currently bottom but one in the Primeira Liga standings, only above last-placed Maritimo, who have lost each of their eight games so far.
Awaiting Pacos de Ferreira is an Arouca side who are without a win in each of the last six meetings between the teams and have managed just one victory in their last 16 encounters since November 2008.
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Armando Evangelista's side failed to arrest their slump in form in their last outing as they were held to a somewhat disappointing 2-2 draw by Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca on September 18.
Mateus Quaresma and Andre Bukia scored in either half to put the home side in front, but Anderson Silva and Ruben Lameiras restored parity on both occasions to end the game in a stalemate.
Arouca are now winless in each of their most recent four outings, picking up just two points from a possible 12 since their 2-1 victory over Santa Clara at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on September 20.
With eight points from seven games, the Arouquenses are currently 12th in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with 11th-placed Chaves, but could rise as high as ninth place with all three points this weekend.
While Arouca will look to return to winning ways and move into the top half of the table, they have struggled to grind out results away from home, where they have picked up just one win in their last 10 outings since February, claiming two draws and losing seven in that time.
Team News
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Pacos de Ferreira will have to make do without the Portuguese defensive duo of Jorge Silva and Sporting Lisbon loanee Tiago Ilori, who are currently recuperating from injuries.
Pedro Ganchas adds to the Pacenses' injury woes at the defensive end of the pitch as the 22-year-old is set to sit out his fifth consecutive game, while Luiz Carlos is a doubt after missing the trip to Santa Clara last time out.
Brazilian goalkeeper Jordi has been out of action since August, meaning that Igor Vekic is in line for his fourth league appearance of the season.
As for Arouca, Evangelista will be unable to call upon the services of Ismaila Soro and Jerome Opoku, who are both suspended after receiving their marching orders against Boavista on September 11.
On the injury front, the Arouquenses will be without Venezuelan defender Sema Velazquez, who is yet to make an appearance this year after suffering an ACL injury in September 2021.
Former Corinthians man Vitinho is also a doubt for the visitors coming off injured midway through the game against Vitoria de Guimaraes, meaning Antony Alves could potentially come into the fold, teaming up with Rafa Mujica and Bukia in the final third.
Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Vekic; Ramos, Ferigra, Antunes; Delgado, Pires, Ibrahim, Uilton; Gaitan, Butzke, Djalo
Arouca possible starting lineup:
Zubas; Esgaio, Galovic, Basso, Correia; Ruiz, Yaw, Simao; Bukia, Mujica, Vitinho
We say: Pacos de Ferreira 2-1 Arouca
While Pacos de Ferreira have endured a horrid start to the campaign, we are backing them to take the positives from their performance against Santa Clara when they face an Arouca side who have suffered a slump in form. We are tipping the Pacenses to extend their dominance over the visitors and pick up their first win of the season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
