Looking to pick up their first win in seven matches across all competitions, Portimonense take on Pacos de Ferreira at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao in round 19 of the Primeira Liga on Monday.
Having secured a 3-0 victory in August's reverse fixture, the Alvinegros will head into the game looking to complete their first league double over the visiting side.
Match preview
© Reuters
Portimonense were left empty handed once again as they suffered a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Boavista when the sides squared off at the Estadio do Bessa last Sunday.
Despite efforts from Fahd Moufi and Paulo Estrela, goals from Bruno Onyemaechi, Ricardo Mangas and a brace from Yusupha Njie saw Os Axadrezados cruise to their seventh win of the season.
Portimonense have now failed to win any of their last six matches across all competitions — losing five and managing just one draw — a run which saw them crash out of the Taca da Liga in the group stages.
Paulo Sergio's men head into Monday on a run of eight defeats and one win from their last 11 matches in the Primeira Liga, where they are currently 13th in the league standings after picking up 20 points from 18 matches.
© Reuters
Pacos de Ferreira, on the other hand, picked up just their second win of the season last time out when they edged out Gil Vicente 2-1 at the Estadio Capital do Movel.
Despite being under the cosh for most of the game and seeing less than 40% of the ball possession, goals from Adrian Butzke and Nuno Lima put the hosts two goals up before Spanish striker Fran Navarro pulled one back in the 68th minute.
Prior to that, the Pacenses snapped their 21-game winless run on January 14 when they secured a 1-0 victory at Rio Ave before suffering back-to-back home defeats against Braga and Benfica.
With nine points from 19 matches, Pacos de Ferreira remain rooted to the bottom of the Primeira Liga standings, six points off 16th-placed Santa Clara in the relegation playoff spot.
However, Cesar Peixoto's men will fancy their chances of securing successive wins for the first time since last March as they go up against a Portimonense side who are winless in six of the last seven meetings between the sides since May 2018.
Team News
© Reuters
Portimonense will still have to make do without the services of Brazilian midfielder Carlinhos, who has been sidelined since last May through a severe injury.
Having missed the game against Boavista through suspension, Senegalese full-back Moustapha Seck is back available for selection and could return to the XI.
Meanwhile, Pacos de Ferreira remain without Nigerian midfielder Abbas Ibrahim, who has missed the last seven matches through a muscle injury.
Butzke ended his 14-game goal drought with his opener in Tuesday's win over Gil Vicente and we expect the Granada loanee to spearhead the attack once again.
At the defensive end of the pitch, Juan Delgado, Lima, Maracas and Vitorino Antunes should form the back four, while Rui Pires, Luiz Carlos and Jordan Holsgrove should team up in the centre of the park.
Portimonense possible starting lineup:
Nakamura; Relvas, Pedrao, Leonardo; Moufi, Diaby, Sa, Klismahn; Ouattara, Luquinha, Ferreira
Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Marafona; Delgado, Lima, Maracas, Antunes; Carlos, Holsgrove, Pires; Gaitan, Butzke, Thomas
We say: Portimonense 1-2 Pacos de Ferreira
Pacos de Ferreira appear to have hit their stride in recent weeks and look set to mount a late charge from the danger zone. The Pacenses head into Monday as the more in-form side and we are backing them to extend their recent dominance in this fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
