The Portuguese Primeira Liga returns with a fresh set of fixtures as newly-promoted Chaves play host to Vizela at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira on Saturday.
The Vizelenses have won their last two away games across all competitions and will head into the weekend seeking to make it three on the bounce for the first time since March 2021.
Match preview
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It took Chaves just two games to get their first win since returning to the Portuguese top flight as they saw off Maritimo 2-1 when the sides met at the Estadio dos Barreiros last Monday.
After trailing at the half-time interval courtesy of Joel Tagueu's 39th-minute opener, the Flavienses upped the ante in the second period as Joao Teixeira and Joao Bachi scored in a five-minute spell to turn the game on its head.
Prior to that, Chaves, who claimed a 2-1 aggregate win over Moreirense in the promotion playoffs final back in May, kicked off their Primeira Liga campaign with a 1-0 loss against Vitoria de Guimaraes on August 7.
Vitor Campelos's men now return to their home turf where they are unbeaten in all but one of their last 12 competitive outings in 2022, picking up nine wins and two draws since the turn of the year.
Vizela, on the other hand, were denied a third victory on the bounce in all competitions last time out when they fell to a slender 1-0 defeat at the hands of Porto.
Alvaro Pacheco's men turned in a defensive show of class at the Estadio do Vizela to keep the scores level for most of the game, but Ivan Marcano struck in the 90th-minute to hand the reigning champions a hard-earned victory.
Prior to that, Vizela wrapped up their pre-season with a 2-1 victory at Pacos de Ferreira to end their five-game losing streak across all competitions, before claiming a 1-0 victory over Rio Ave in their league curtain-raiser on August 6.
The Vizelenses, who finished 14th in the Primeira Liga and four points above the relegation zone last season, head into the weekend on a run of three defeats from their last four away games in the league.
While they will be looking to return to winning ways and set the pace for an early run of form, next up is a Chaves side who they failed to defeat in their two attempts when the teams met in the Segunda Liga back in the 2020-21 campaign.
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Team News
Off the back of an impressive outing against Maritimo last Monday, Pacheco could name a similar starting side this weekend, meaning we could see a back four of Joao Correia, Steven Vitoria, Nelson Montes and Bruno Langa shielding Paulo Vitor in goal.
Twenty-five-year-old Kevin should retain his starting role at the centre of the park, teaming up with Joao Mendes and former Sporting Lisbon man Bernardo Sousa.
Bachi and Teixeira, who netted a combined 14 goals in the Segunda Liga last season, should spearhead the attack once again, alongside newly-signed Spanish forward Hector Hernandez.
Meanwhile, Vizela turned in a defensive show of class to repel Porto for most of the game in their last outing and Pacheco could name an unchanged backline of Kiki Afonso, Anderson, Bruno Wilson and Tomas Silva.
However, Kiko Bondoso is a doubt for the Vizelenses after the 26-year-old forward came off with a late injury in the game against Porto last time out.
Should he fail to shake off his injury, Nigerian youngster Monsuru Opeyemi could come in for his second start of the season, teaming up with Kevin Zohi and Nuno Moreira in the final third.
Chaves possible starting lineup:
Vitor; Correia, Vitoria, Montes, Langa; Kevin, Sousa,Mendes; Bachi, Teixeira, Hernandez
Vizela possible starting lineup:
Buntic; Silva, Wilson, Anderson, Afonso; Samu, Guzzo, Rosa; Zohi, Opeyemi, Moreira
We say: Chaves 1-1 Vizela
Chavez picked up their first win of the season and will hope that result can serve as a springboard for a fine run of form. However, we predict that Vizela will make use of their experience and hold out for a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
