The action continues in round 28 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as Portimonense and Casa Pia go head to head at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao on Sunday.
While the Os Gansos continue their push for a top-half finish, the hosts will be looking to pick up consecutive league wins for the first time this season and move out of the relegation zone.
Match preview
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Portimonense picked up a huge result in what has been a truly forgettable campaign as they fought back from behind to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory over Chaves at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira last Sunday.
Hector Hernandez and Joao Correia scored on either side of Carlinhos' 72nd-minute equaliser to put Chaves in front heading into the final 10 minutes of the tie, but Midana Cassama and Igor Formiga netted in a late eight-minute spell to turn the game on its head.
This was a much-needed respite for Paulo Sergio's men, who had failed to win any of their previous eight outings, picking up two draws and losing six since their 4-1 victory at Boavista on January 28.
After a decent start to the season, a run of just three league victories since the start of December has seen Portimonense plunge into the relegation zone, putting their seven-year stint in the top flight under threat.
The Alvinegros are currently 16th in the Primeira Liga standings, one point adrift of 17th-placed Estrela Amadora just above the relegation playoff spot, but they could move level on 29 points with 11th-placed Estoril Praia with a win this weekend.
Breaching opposing defences has not been a worry for Portimonense, who have scored 30 league goals the term, but their struggles have come at the opposite end of the pitch, where they have conceded the joint-highest number of goals so far (60).
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With just six games to go, Casa Pia will have their eyes on securing a first top-half finish since returning to the Primeira Liga in 2022 and ending an 83-year absence from the top flight.
Goncalo Santos' side have picked up eight wins and seven draws from their 28 matches to collect 31 points and sit ninth in the table, one point above 10th-placed Farense and three behind eight-placed Famalicao.
Casa Pia were denied consecutive league victories last weekend when they were held to a somewhat disappointing goalless draw by Estoril Praia when the sides met at the Estadio Pina Manique.
Prior to that, Os Gansos snapped their three-match winless run on March 31 when they steamrolled Vizela 4-0 at the Estadio do FC Vizela courtesy of goals from Neto, Gaizka Larrazabal and a brace from Felippe Cardoso.
Next up for Casa Pia is the challenge of a Portimonense side who have failed to win any of their last three encounters, claiming one draw and losing twice, including a 1-0 loss in December's reverse fixture.
Team News
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Portimonense head into the weekend with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns, giving Sergio the luxury of a full-strength squad at his disposal.
We expect the 56-year-old to name a similar side from last week's victory over Chaves, with Carlinhos, Lucas Ventura and Taichi Fukui retaining their roles at the centre of the park.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Formiga should return to the starting side, forming the back four with Felipe Relvas, Alemao and Pedrao, with Kosuke Nakamura starting between the sticks.
Meanwhile, Casa Pia remain without Portuguese forward Kiki Silva, who has been out of action since last March through an Achilles tendon injury.
Fellow countryman Rafael Brito has missed each of the four games since coming off injured versus Gil Vicente on March 3 and the midfielder will also play no part in Sunday's game.
Portimonense possible starting lineup:
Nakamura; Moura, Pedrao, Alemao, Relvas; Fukui, Carlinhos, Ventura; Martins, Folgado, Varela
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Batista; Varela, Zolotic, Nunes; Larrazabal, Neto, Segovia, Lelo; Roberto, Cardoso, Moreira
We say: Portimonense 2-1 Casa Pia
Buoyed by their huge win over Chaves, Portimonense will head into the weekend with renewed belief as they look to pull clear of the relegation zone. The Alvinegros' home advantage should give them an extra edge here and we see them coming away with a narrow victory in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
