Preview: Alverca vs Gil Vicente - prediction, team news, lineups

Primeira Liga matchday nine’s curtain-raiser will see Alverca welcome Gil Vicente to Complexo Desportivo FC Alverca on Friday evening.

Both teams look to bounce back from their eliminations in the domestic cup, with the hosts suffering a penalty defeat at Uniao de Leiria, while the Roosters lost 2-1 away to Academico de Viseu.

Match preview

Friday’s Taca de Portugal clash at Leiria was a ‘retaste’ of what it feels like to face second-tier opposition for Alverca, who earned promotion to the top flight this season, and the experience ended on a bitter note despite a brave late rally.

A dramatic close to regulation time saw Marezi and Kaiky Naves strike in the 95th and 97th minutes to draw level after Custodio Castro’s men had gone two goals down, but the visitors fell short in the shootout, converting only two of four penalties as the hosts scored four of five.

There will be little time to dwell on that disappointment for Alverca, who are beginning to find their feet in the top flight, having picked up nine points from the last four matches in the competition.

Castro’s men started the top-flight campaign without a single win in their opening four fixtures (D1) but have now recorded victories over Tondela, Vitoria Guimaraes and AVS in their most recent league outing (3-1), with the only blemish in this run being a 2-1 defeat to Santa Clara.

Alverca’s revival has lifted them to ninth on 10 points, with 11 goals scored and 12 conceded across eight league games, though O maior do Ribatejo have found greater stability in defence during recent home matches.

The newly promoted side have won the last two games in front of their fans, keeping clean sheets in both after losing the opening two and conceding four across those couple of matches, and will hope this improvement continues against opponents they shut out in their previous two meetings.

Those encounters came in the 2003-04 campaign – before Alverca’s 22-year spell in the lower divisions – with Gil losing 1-0 at home before playing out a goalless draw in the return leg.

The Roosters can take confidence into this clash given their fine run in this season’s Primeira Liga, having won five of eight matches (D1, L2) to sit fourth in the standings on 16 points.

Gil’s campaign has been built on defensive solidity, boasting the joint-second best record at the back, with their four goals conceded so far coming in defeats against Primeira Liga heavyweights Porto (2-0) and Benfica (2-1).

Cesar Peixoto’s men claimed a 2-0 victory over Estrela Amadora in their most recent league outing, a result that also took their goal tally to 10 while extending the Roosters’s clean sheets to six for the season – only leaders Porto have managed more (7).

Having only dropped points against teams that finished in the top seven last season – the only other time Gil failed to take maximum points being in a goalless draw at the daunting ground of Famalicao – the visitors will be optimistic of taking the full spoils on Friday against their newly promoted hosts.

A record of two wins in four away league matches this term should offer encouragement, even though the Roosters have lost their last two trips in both the Primeira Liga and Taca de Portugal, suffering 2-1 defeats to Benfica and Academico.

Alverca Primeira Liga form:

Alverca form (all competitions):

Gil Vicente Primeira Liga form:

Gil Vicente form (all competitions):

Team News

There are no fresh injury concerns for Alverca, though left winger Chiquinho could miss a fifth consecutive league appearance with what appears to be a muscle issue.

Defender Steven Baseya returns from international duty with the French U-20 side, though the 20-year-old is unlikely to start here, with Bastien Meupiyou, Naves and Sergi Gomez expected to continue their partnership in Castro’s three-man backline.

Andre Gomes is set to return between the sticks after making way for Matheus Mendes in last Friday’s domestic cup defeat to Leiria.

Marko Milovanovic is also expected to lead the line again after featuring as a substitute last time, and the Serbian will aim to add to his three league goals this season.

Amorim has created the most big chances of any Alverca player in the league this term (3), and the Brazilian will look to pull the strings in midfield once again.

Gil will once more rely on Pablo in attack, with the Brazilian forward having scored six of the team’s league goals so far, including a brace against Estrela that leaves him joint-top scorer in the Primeira Liga this season.

Tidjany Toure made his first appearance of the season as a second-half substitute last time out after recovering from injury and could get more minutes here.

However, defensive midfielder Mohamed Bamba and centre-forward Carlos Eduardo remain doubtful for selection.

Alverca possible starting lineup:

A Gomes; Naves, S Gomez, Meupiyou; Touaizi, Gui, Amorim, Chissumba; Figueiredo, Milovanovic, Lincoln

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:

Andrew; Ze Carlos, J Buantu, Elimbi, Konan; Caseres, Esteves; Murilo, S Garcia, Fernandes; Pablo

We say: Alverca 1-1 Gil Vicente

Only once have Alverca failed to find the net in this season’s Primeira Liga, so Gil’s defence may find it difficult to keep the hosts quiet. With both teams showing positive momentum in the league, a share of the spoils appears the most likely outcome.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.