Preview: Boavista vs. Famalicao - prediction, team news, lineups

Boavista could supplant Famalicao in the Primeira Liga table when they play host to Fama at Estadio do Bessa on Sunday.

The Panthers were defeated 3-0 at Sporting Lisbon last weekend, while this weekend's visitors secured a slender 1-0 triumph over out-of-form Casa Pia.

Match preview

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Boavista's lack of wins in recent gameweeks has seen them lose momentum in the tussle to end inside the division's European places.

The latest disappointing result in that run was last week's 3-0 reverse at Sporting, a loss that saw Petit's team lose ninth place in the table, falling to 10th after Famalicao's win against Casa Pia.

Even though they lost their position in the competition's top half, the Panthers could reclaim that spot if they secure maximum points on Sunday night, with both sides separated by goal difference.

That said, Petit's men must strive to improve on a sequence that has produced one victory since the start of February, thus leaving them 10 points adrift of fifth-placed Vitoria Guimaraes.

In truth, the downturn in Boavista's results goes far back as October, with the dip since beating Sporting 2-1 in September followed by a run of just three victories in the subsequent 17 league matches heading into this weekend's encounter with Famalicao.

Round 25's visitors to Estadio do Bessa moved level with the Panthers when they got the better of Casa Pia in the preceding gameweek, even going ahead of Petit's men on goal difference.

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Unlike the host team, Fama enters this fixture on an encouraging sequence of results, evidenced by their three victories from four matches, with the only loss coming against table-topping Benfica.

Two of those matches — against Portimonense and Casa Pia — ended without conceding a goal, and Joao Pedro Sousa's team have had their rearguard breached only once in that trio of triumphs.

Only the clubs occupying the top-flight's leading four positions have claimed more than the club from the Braga district's three wins in the last five league rounds, demonstrating the decent level of consistency shown by a club that looks to outdo last year's eighth-place finish.

The reverse fixture ended 4-0 to Famalicao, and a similar result — at the ground they won 5-2 in 2022-23 — will be just what the doctor ordered.

Team News

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Kenji Gorre missed Boavista's defeat by Sporting last weekend, and the winger is unlikely to return on Sunday.

The wide attacker's expected non-appearance is Petit's only reported absence, so a similar lineup to the previous outing is likely.

The hosts are anticipated to utilise a 4-3-3 at Estadio do Bessa.

Theo Fonseca and Jose Luis Rodriguez have not featured since October and November, respectively, because of long-term injuries, and they are not expected back on Sunday.

Alex Dobre should return to the squad after serving his suspension following his sending-off against Portimonense in late February.

Sousa's men are expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 at Boavista.

Boavista possible starting lineup:

Bracali; Malheiro, Cannon, Abascal, Onyemaechi; Perez, Makouta, Camara; Mangas, Njie, Agra

Famalicao possible starting lineup:

Junior; Penetra, Riccieli, Mihaj, Moura; Youssouf, Colombatto; Dobre, Rodrigues, Jaime; Denilson

We say: Boavista 1-1 Famalicao

Despite Boavista's inability to score goals in recent matches — the Panthers have not netted in three of the last five league games — this game has often produced goals since their first meeting in January 2020.

Famalicao won the corresponding fixture last season, but their ongoing misery on the road suggests a similar result may be unlikely, so a draw with both teams scoring could be on the cards.

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