Pacos de Ferreira set out to end their three-match losing run and resume their late push from the Primeira Liga danger zone when they take on Vizela at the Estadio do FC Vizela on Saturday.
With five games to go before the 2022-23 campaign draws to a close, Cesar Peixoto's men currently sit five points adrift of the relegation playoff spot.
Match preview
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Vizela's quest for European football suffered a huge blow last Sunday when they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Arouca at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca.
Despite having the bulk of the ball possession and goalscoring opportunities, the Vizelenses were repeatedly denied by a spirited Ignacio de Arruabarrena in goal for Arouca as Morlaye Sylla's 12th-minute strike was enough to hand the hosts their 13th win of the season.
Prior to that, Manuel Tulipa's men saw their three-match winning streak come to an end against Boavista on April 17, when Yusupha Njie and Osama Rashid scored for either side to force a 1-1 draw at the Estadio do FC Vizela.
Vizela are currently eighth in the Primeira Liga standings, level on 39 points with ninth-placed Casa Pia and nine points adrift of the Europa Conference League qualification places.
Having endured an underwhelming campaign, Pacos de Ferreira's 14-year stay in the top flight has come under threat as they find themselves in a scramble at the bottom end of the table.
Peixoto's men dropped three more points in their race to beat the drop last Saturday when they were beaten 2-0 by title-chasing Porto at the Estadio Capital do Movel.
After Jordan Holsgrove picked up a first-half red card, Sergio Conceicao's side took full advantage of their numerical upper hand as Mehdi Taremi and Toni Martinez scored second-half goals to keep their title race alive.
Pacos de Ferreira have now lost three straight matches, falling to defeats against Famalicao, Maritimo and Porto, while picking up just two points from their last five five games since a 1-0 victory over Santa Clara on March 11.
With 17 points from 29 matches, the Pacenses are currently 17th in the league standings, one point above rock-bottom Santa Clara and five points adrift of Maritimo in the relegation playoff spot.
With games against top-five sides like Sporting Lisbon and Braga still to be played, Pacos de Ferreira will need maximum points this weekend as they look to keep their Primeira Liga fate in their hands.
Team News
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We expect Tulipa to stick to his preferred back four of Igor Juliao, Bruno Wilson, Anderson and Kiki Afonso, with Fabijan Buntic starting between the sticks.
Raphael Guzzo has started each of Vizela's last eight matches and the former Benfica form should team up with Samu and 35-year-old Claudemir at the centre of the park.
With seven goals to his name, Milutin Osmajic is the Vizelenses' top scorer in the league this season and the Cadiz loanee should spearhead the attack, alongside Kiko Bondoso and former Los Angeles Galaxy forward Alex Mendez.
Pacos de Ferreira will take to the pitch without the services of Scottish midfielder Holsgrove, who will serve a one-match suspension following his red card in last weekend's defeat to Porto.
In his absence, 22-year-old Nigel Thomas should come into the fold, forming the midfield trio with Rui Pires and former Braga man Luiz Carlos.
Vizela possible starting lineup:
Buntic; Juliao, Wilson, Anderson, Afonso; Luiz, Samu, Guzzo; Mendez, Bondoso, Osmajic
Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Vekic; Delgado, Ferigra, Lima, Antunes; Carlos, Pires; Uilton, Djalo, Gaitan; Guedes
We say: Vizela 2-0 Pacos de Ferreira
With just five games to go before the end of the 2022-23 campaign, Pacos de Ferreira are running out of time to salvage their season and will need a huge result this weekend. However, Vizela cannot afford any more slip-ups in their quest for European football and we fancy them to claim all three points in front of their home fans.
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