Estoril Praia will be looking to pick up a third away victory on the bounce when they visit the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira to face Chaves on Saturday.
The newly-promoted side, on the other hand, head into the weekend without a win in any of their four home games this season and will set out to end this dry spell
Match preview
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Chaves were left empty-handed for the second consecutive game in their most recent outing as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Portimonense at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao two Fridays ago.
In a game where Steven Vitoria received his marching orders, former Porto midfielder Paulo Estrela scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 19th minute to hand the Portimao outfit their fifth victory of the season.
Prior to that, Chaves saw their four-game unbeaten run come to an end on September 10 when they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of league champions Porto courtesy of goals from Mehdi Taremi, Evanilson and summer signing Andre Franco.
Vitor Campelos's men now return to home turf, where they are currently on a four-game winless run, claiming two draws and losing twice, while they have managed just one win from their last five games across all competitions.
With eight points from seven games, Chaves are currently 11th in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with 12th-placed Arouca, but could potentially rise as high as eighth place with all three points this weekend.
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Meanwhile, Nelson Verissimo will be disappointed not to have come away with all three points as his Estoril Praia side were held to a 1-1 draw by Porto when the teams squared off two Saturdays ago.
In a cagey affair at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota, Tiago Gouveia put the hosts ahead four minutes before the half-time break, but Taremi calmly converted his penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time to force a share of the spoils.
The Canarinhos are now unbeaten in four of their most recent five outings — claiming two wins and two draws — with a 2-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon on September 2 being the only exception.
Estoril Praia, who finished ninth in the Primeira Liga last season, have picked up three wins, two draws and lost two of their seven games this term to collect 11 points and sit seventh in the league standings.
Team News
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Chaves will be without the experience of 35-year-old Vitoria, who will serve the first of a three-game suspension after picking up a straight red against Portimonense last time out.
In his absence, former Istanbul Basaksehir man Carlos Ponck should come into the XI, forming a centre-back partnership with 27-year-old Nelson Monte, who has played all seven matches this season.
On the injury front, Chaves will take to the pitch without Brazilian international Euller, who is set to miss his fourth consecutive game after coming off injured against Sporting Lisbon on August 27.
Meanwhile, Joao Carlos was forced off with a 39th-minute injury against Sporting Lisbon on September 2 and the 27-year-old forward remains out of contention for Estoril Praia.
Senegalese international Mor Ndiaye received his marching orders in the game against Porto last time out and the 21-year-old midfielder will play no part in this weekend's encounter.
Chaves possible starting lineup:
Fagundes; Correia, Monte, Ponck, Langa; Mendes, Pina, Teixeira; Arriba, Hernandez, Juninho
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Figueira; Santos, Vital, Alvaro, Joaozinho; Geraldes, Carvalho; Gouveia, Siliki, Martins; Erison
We say: Chaves 1-2 Estoril Praia
Chaves have struggled to get going on home turf, where they are without a win in their three games this season. Meanwhile, Estoril Praia have won their most recent two away games and we predict they will continue this fine form by claiming all three points once again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
