On a run of four defeats in their opening four games of the new Primeira Liga campaign, Pacos de Ferreira visit the Estadio do Bessa to face Boavista on Monday.
While the visitors will be seeking to get their campaign up and running, Os Axadrezados are unbeaten in each of the last 10 meetings between the sides and will aim to extend their dominance in this fixture.
Match preview
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Boavista failed to return to winning ways in their most recent outing as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of high-flying Benfica when the sides squared off on August 27.
Felipe Morato opened the scoring on the half-hour mark to hand As Aguias a first-half lead, before former Inter Milan forward Joao Mario scored a second-half brace to cap off a sensational individual performance.
Prior to that, Os Axadrezados kicked off their 2022-23 campaign with successive victories over Portimonense and Santa Clara before crashing down to earth in a 2-0 loss against newly-promoted Casa Pia on August 21.
Boavista, who last suffered back-to-back home defeats in the Primeira Liga in February 2021, are currently 10th in the league standings, level on six points with ninth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes.
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Pacos de Ferreira, on the other hand, would have hoped for a better start to the new top-flight campaign as they head into the fifth round of matches as one of just two sides yet to pick up any points.
While there were obvious signs of improvement in their most recent outing — particularly at the attacking end of the pitch, where they failed to find the target in their opening three games — Cesar Peixoto's men were left empty handed once again as they fell to a 3-2 defeat away to Benfica.
After taking the lead courtesy of N'Dri Philippe Koffi's 39th-minute strike, the 2018-19 champions hit three straight goals through David Neres, Joao Mario and Goncalo Ramos before Koffi added a second to reduce the deficit in the 80th minute.
The Pacenses, who have now lost each of their opening four games of the season, are currently on a six-match losing run in the league while they have failed to taste victory in nine consecutive games since April's 2-0 win over Maritimo.
While Pacos de Ferreira will be looking to end this dry spell and get their season up and running, next up is the daunting challenge of facing a Boavista side who they have failed to beat in their last 10 attempts, stretching back to a 2-1 win in December 2016.
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Team News
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Petit remains unable to call upon the services of 23-year-old midfielder Miguel Reisinho, who continues his long journey to recovery after sustaining a severe knee injury last August.
Yusupha Njie is also a major doubt for Boavista as the 28-year-old, who has two goals in two games this season, has missed the last two outings after coming off injured against Santa Clara on August 14.
Meanwhile, Pacos de Ferreira will take to the pitch without goalkeeper Jordi and defender Pedro Ganchas, who are set to sit out their third consecutive game through injury.
The Portuguese duo of Jorge Silva and Tiago Ilori also adds to the visitors' defensive crisis as they are currently recuperating from knee and muscle injuries respectively.
Koffi turned in an eye-catching performance against Benfica last time out and the Lens loanee should spearhead the attack once again, alongside winger Nigel Thomas and Manchester City's 19-year-old loanee Kayky.
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Bracali; Cannon, Sasso, Abascal; Malheiro, Perez, Makouta, Ferreira; Agra, Bozenik, Gorre
Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Oliveira; Fonseca, Ramos, Lima, Antunes; Pires, Ibrahim, Delgado; Thomas, Kayky, Koffi
We say: Boavista 2-1 Pacos de Ferreira
Pacos de Ferreira have endured a horrid start to the new campaign and will be desperate to end their losing streak. However, they face a Boavista side who have been dominant in the recent history of this fixture, claiming six wins and four draws from their last 10 encounters. We are backing the hosts to extend this solid record and come away with a slender history, heaping more misery on the floundering Pacenses.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
