Vitoria de Guimaraes will be looking to move level with Braga in the Europa Conference League qualification spot when they go head to head with Moreirense on Saturday.
Os verdes e brancos have failed to win their last 10 visits to the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques since February 2013 and will head into the weekend seeking to end this poor run.
Match preview
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Vitoria de Guimaraes continue to march on in their quest for European football as they secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chaves in their last outing before the international break.
In an end-to-end affair at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira, Jota Silva and Tiago Silva scored on either side of Hector Hernandez's 23rd-minute equaliser to hand the visitors all three points.
Alvaro Pacheco's side have now won three games on the spin, scoring six goals and conceding twice since the start of March, and are unbeaten in 16 of their last 18 matches across all competitions, claiming 12 wins and four draws since late November.
This fine run of results has not only put Vitoria de Guimaraes in contention for a place in Europe but has also seen them reach the Taca de Portugal semi-finals, where they have been drawn against Porto on April 3.
Os Vimaranenses have picked up 15 wins from their 26 Primeira Liga matches while losing six and claiming five draws to collect 50 points and sit fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Braga in the Conference League qualification spot.
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Moreirense, on the other hand, kept their slim hopes of securing a place in Europe alive last time out when they secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Arouca on home turf.
Gabonese striker Hernani Infande came up clutch at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas as he netted the only goal of the game inside the opening 10 minutes to hand the visitors their 12th league defeat of the season.
Rui Borges's men have now gone unbeaten in four of their last five home games — claiming three wins and one draw — with a 2-0 defeat against league leaders Sporting Lisbon on February 19 being the exception.
While Moreirense have been rock-solid at home of late, they have struggled to get going on their travels, where they have lost three of their most recent four games, conceding seven goals and scoring just once since mid-January.
With 42 points from 26 matches, Os verdes e brancos are currently sixth in the Primeira Liga standings, eight points behind Saturday's hosts and 11 adrift of the Conference League qualifying spot.
While Moreirense will look to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since November, they have failed to win any of their last 10 visits to the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques, losing eight and claiming two draws since February 2013.
Team News
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Vitoria de Guimaraes will take to the pitch without Cape Verde midfielder Telmo Arcanjo, who has been out of action since sustaining a cruciate ligament tear in May 2023.
He is joined on the club's injury table by first-choice goalkeeper Bruno Varela, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines through a muscle problem.
Infande was forced off injured inside the first half against Arouca last time out and the 22-year-old forward is a major doubt for Moreirense.
In his absence, South African forward Kobamelo Kodisang will push for a place in the XI, forming the front three with Joao Camacho and Brazilian striker Vinicius Mingotti.
Twenty-two-year-old forward Jeremy Antonisse has missed each of Os verdes e brancos' last four matches through a muscle problem and will also play no part in Saturday's game.
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Charles; Silva, Borevkovic, Ribeiro; Gaspar, T Silva, Handel, Mangas; J Silva, Oliveira, Mendes
Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Silva, Maracas, Ponck, Frimpong; Ofori, Franco; Camacho. Alan, Kodisang; Alessandro
We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 2-1 Moreirense
With just eight games to go, Vitoria de Guimaraes know that they cannot afford any slip-ups if they are to secure a top-four finish. Pacheco's men have hit their stride in recent weeks and we fancy them to come away with all three points 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
