Preview: Casa Pia vs. Vitoria de Guimaraes - prediction, team news, lineups

Casa Pia will attempt to extend their unbeaten run to four matches when they play host to Vitoria de Guimaraes in Saturday's Primeira Liga contest.

Guimaraes, meanwhile, are looking to return to winning ways after losing their last three matches across all competitions.

Match preview

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After achieving a 10th-placed finish in their first top-flight campaign in 83 years, Casa Pia are seemingly determined to enjoy another successful season after picking up eight points from their opening five matches.

The league campaign got underway with a commanding 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Farense, before they were edged out by 19-time Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon.

While that result has proven to be their only league defeat of the season so far, Casa Pia would have been frustrated to play out consecutive 1-1 draws against Boavista and Rio Ave after taking the lead in both of those encounters.

They looked set to be heading to another draw against Arouca last weekend, before substitute Felippe Cardoso netted a stoppage-time winner to guide his side to a narrow 1-0 away victory.

Although they have avoided defeat in their opening three away games (W2, D1), Casa Pia have failed to win any of their last five home league matches since beating Maritmo 2-0 in March.

Guimaraes made a promising start to their league campaign despite having to contend with a change of manager following Moreno's resignation, claiming three consecutive victories, including a 2-0 win over Vizela in Paulo Turra's first game in charge on matchday three.

However, since that result, Turra has overseen a poor run of form, which began with a heavy 4-0 defeat to reigning champions Benfica.

After losing 1-0 to Tondela in the Taca da Liga, Guimaraes were seemingly on course to bounce back with a win after leading for the majority of last weekend's meeting against Portimonense following a Filipe Relvas' 17th-minute own goal.

Unfortunately for Os Vimaranenses, they were unable to hold off a late fightback from their opponents, who completed a dramatic turnaround courtesy of a Carlinhos brace, which condemned Guimaraes to their first defeat of the Primeira Liga season.

After conceding six goals in their last two league matches, Saturday's visitors will look to rediscover the defensive resilience that helped them record two clean sheets in their opening two games.

Team News

The home side are unable to call upon Kiki Silva and Leo Natel, while Rafael Brito is a doubt due to an injury issue.

After coming off the bench to score the winner last weekend, Felippe Cardoso could be rewarded with a place in the lineup.

Benedito Mukendi is also in contention to feature in the starting XI after playing the final 30 minutes against Arouca.

As for the visitors, they are still without the services of defender Ricardo Mangas and forward Telmo Arcanjo.

Mikel Villanueva and Andre will have to be assessed ahead of Saturday's contest as they continue to recover from their respective injury issues.

Midfielder Daniel Silva is a doubt for the away trip after being forced off in the first of the 2-1 defeat to Portimonense.

Casa Pia possible starting lineup:

Batista; Fernandes, Varela, Zolotic; Larrazabal, Roberto, Mukendi, Lelo; Soma, Andrade, Cardoso

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:

Varela; Fernandes, Manu, Ribeiro; Gaspar, Handel, T. Silva, Freitas; J. Silva, Mendes, A.Silva

We say: Casa Pia 1-1 Vitoria de Guimaraes

Having lost just one of their five league games this season, Casa Pia have proven to be a tough team to beat, and we think that they will do enough to take a point from Saturday's meeting with a Guimaraes side who are low on confidence following a three-game losing run.

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