Seeking to pick up a fourth consecutive home win, Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Gil Vicente in round 12 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Monday.
The Gilistas have lost each of their most recent four visits to the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques since March 2021 and will head into this one looking to end this dry spell.
Match preview
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Vitoria de Guimaraes left it late in their Conference League clash against Astana as they fought back from behind to salvage a late 1-1 stalemate at the Ortalyq Stadion on Thursday.
Croatian defender Branimir Kalaica opened the scoring five minutes before half time to put the home side in front before substitute Jesus Ramirez struck in the 89th minute to force a share of the spoils.
Vitoria de Guimaraes have now gone unbeaten in each of their four Conference League matches, claiming three wins and one draw to sit fifth in the table, two points off leaders Chelsea.
While Rui Borges's men are riding pretty high in Europe, they have struggled to grind out results back home, where they have managed just one win from their most recent six matches, which came on November 3, when they beat Moreirense 1-0 courtesy of a 64th-minute strike from Nelson Oliveira.
Vitoria de Guimaraes have picked up five wins from 11 Primeira Liga matches so far while losing three and claiming three draws to collect 18 points and sit sixth in the standings, six points off fourth-placed Santa Clara.
Guimaraes will be backing themselves to bounce back this weekend as they return home, where they are on a run of three back-to-back victories and are unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 games across all competitions, picking up nine wins and one draw so far.
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Gil Vicente, on the other hand, booked their spot in the fifth round of the Taca de Portugal last Sunday when they secured a 2-0 victory over Campeonato de Portugal outfit Vila Real.
Following a goalless first half at the Campo Do Calvario, Ze Carlos broke the deadlock in the 70th minute before substitute Jordi Mboula made sure of the result with an 87th-minute effort.
Head coach Bruno Pinheiro will hope that the cup victory can serve as a catalyst for an upturn in form in the Primeira Liga, where they have lost each of their last three matches, conceding seven goals and scoring four since a 3-0 victory over Estrela Amadora on October 5.
This slump in form has seen Gil Vicente drop into 11th place in the league standings, level on 10 points with Estoril Praia, Boavista and newly-promoted AVS, and just one point above the relegation zone.
Next up for the Gilistas is a trip to the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques, where they have lost each of their last three visits, conceding 11 goals and scoring just two since a 4-2 victory back in March 2021.
While Gil Vicente will be looking to end this poor streak, results on their travels offer little optimism as they have failed to win their last eight Primeira Liga away matches, losing five and claiming three draws since April's 1-0 victory at Moreirense.
Team News
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Vitoria de Guimaraes will have to cope without the services of 31-year-old midfielder Tiago Silva, who is suspended after picking up a late red card against Santa Clara on November 10.
On the injury front, Guimaraes will take to the pitch without 27-year-old defender Jorge Fernandes, who has been out of action since suffering a muscle injury in August.
Like the home side, Gil Vicente remain without the services of Spanish midfielder Santi Garcia, who will sit out Monday's game through suspension.
Pinheiro will be unable to name South Africa international Sphephelo Sithole, who came off with a ligament injury while on international duty against South Sudan in September.
He is joined on the Gilistas' injury table by 23-year-old midfielder Facundo Caseres, who has been out of action since picking up a meniscus injury back in April.
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Baio, Rivas, Borevkovic, Mendes; J Silva, Handel, Samu; Cesar, Oliveira, Santos
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Mutombo, Mananga, Fernandes, Cruz; Castillo, Gbane, Fujimoto; Toure, Aguirre, Correia
We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 2-0 Gil Vicente
Having picked up 11 wins and two draws from their 17 Primeira Liga home games last season, Guimaraes have continued to make their home turf a fortress, which has been key to their surge into the top half of the table this term. Gil Vicente have struggled to impose themselves on the road and we are backing Borges's side to come away with all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
