Famalicao and Santa Clara get Sunday's Primeira Liga action underway when they go head to head in a thrilling matchup at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao.
Both sides are yet to pick up a win in the new league campaign and we anticipate a thrilling contest with both sides taking the game to each other in search of a morale-boosting result.
Match preview
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Famalicao failed to get up and running in the new Primeira Liga campaign as they were held to a goalless draw by Gil Vicente at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos last Monday.
The Vila Nova and the Gilistas were guilty of a lack of sting at the attacking end of the pitch as they failed to tuck home several clear-cut chances before settling for a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, Rui Silva's men were on a run of two defeats from their opening two games of the season, losing 2-0 to Estoril Praia in their league curtain-raiser on August 6 before they were beaten 3-0 by Braga six days later.
Famalicao now return home where they are unbeaten in nine of their 11 games in 2022, picking up four wins and four draws while scoring 16 goals and keeping fine clean sheets in that time.
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Santa Clara, on the other hand, kicked off their new campaign with a disappointing goalless draw with newly-promoted Casa Pia on August 7 before falling to a 2-1 loss against Boavista one week later.
Os Acoreanos were left empty handed for the second consecutive game last weekend when they were condemned to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Arouca on home turf.
After falling behind to Rildo's 50th-minute opener, the visitors upped the ante as Rafa Mujica and Joao Basso scored in a 15-minute spell to turn the game around at the Estadio de Sao Miguel.
Mario Silva's side head into the weekend winless in their last four Primeira Liga games, picking up one draw and losing three, while they have failed to taste victory in nine consecutive away games in the league since the start of February.
While Santa Clara will be looking to end this dry spell and get their campaign up and running, standing in their way is an opposing side who are unbeaten in each of the last four meetings between the teams, picking up three wins and one draw since a 1-0 loss in January 2020.
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Team News
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Famalicao remain without the services of Spanish midfielder Ivan Jaime after the 21-year-old ruptured his cruciate ligament back in January.
Ivo Rodrigues is also a doubt for the Vila Nova after the Portuguese was forced off injured shortly after the hour mark against Gil Vicente last time out.
Should he fail to shake off his injury, fellow countryman Heriberto Tavares will push for a place in the starting XI, potentially coming in for his third starting appearance of the season.
Meanwhile, newly-signed forward Rildo has hit the ground running for Santa Clara and the 22-year-old, who has scored in his first two outings for the club, should lead the attack once again.
Os Acoreanos recently completed the loan signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Bruno Jordao and the 23-year-old could be handed his debut this weekend, teaming up with skipper Anderson Carvalho and Victor Bobsin at the centre of the park.
Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Fuente, Penetra, Riccieli, Lima; Assuncal, Colombatto; Tavares, Simoes, Kadile; Fonte
Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Sagna, Ferreira, Boateng, Henrique; Jordao, Carvalho, Bobsin; Ricardinho, Costa, Rildo
We say: Famalicao 2-1 Santa Clara
Sunday's game sees two sides who have stumbled into the new season go head to head and we expect them to go all out against each other in search of their first league win. However, Santa Clara have struggled for results on the road and we predict that Famalicao will make use of their home advantage to claim a slender victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
