Preview: Gil Vicente vs. Santa Clara - prediction, team news, lineups

Gil Vicente shall be hoping to strengthen their position in the top five of the Primeira Liga on Sunday when they welcome Santa Clara to the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos.

The visitors are undefeated in their previous four matches in the league, and could climb as high as seventh place with a victory.

Match preview

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Gil Vicente have enjoyed a fantastic first half of the season, losing just five Primeira Liga matches so far, with their form having taken them into fifth place heading into Sunday's match.

With a five-point gap between them and the chasing pack, the squad will be comfortable in their position, but they shall also want to strengthen that where possible, potentially even increasing it.

They are also just five points away from Braga in fourth place, and continuing to place pressure upon them is something that Vicente will be looking to do as well.

It has been five games since they were last defeated, and that is a record that the team shall be attempting to continue, especially against a club that have struggled defensively.

Only one other squad have conceded more goals than the visitors in the league this season, and Gil Vicente will be looking to take advantage of that, especially after defeating Benfica in their last outing.

Santa Clara may have struggled for clean sheets throughout the campaign, but they have managed to pick up results still, which included a win during their most recent outing.

A penalty from Crysan had granted them the lead, but even though Boavista were able to equalise, Kyosuke Tagawa was on hand with a 75th-minute goal to provide the winner.

This continued their strong start to 2022 in the Primeira Liga, as they are undefeated so far this year in the competition, with three victories and a draw to their name.

With the club currently in 10th place, the result on Sunday could see them move either way in the table, as they could climb as high as seventh with a victory, or fall to 14th, highlighting how tight it is around them.

Rui Costa score the only goal when the two teams met earlier this season, which gave Santa Clara all three points, and they will be happy to repeat that result this weekend if possible.

Team News

The hosts will continue to be without Joao Afonso, who has been out of action since last April through injury, while Murilo de Souza is another player on the sidelines for them.

Pedrinho will continue to be a source of creativity for the club heading into the match, while Fran Navarro is expected to lead the line.

Crysan marked his return to the field with a goal for Santa Clara in midweek, and the Brazilian will likely keep hold of his place in the starting XI this Sunday.

Costinha is unavailable for the club though due to an Achilles tendon injury, which has been a long-term issue for the squad, who will likely lineup with a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:

Da Silva Ventura; Carlos, Fernandes, Cunha, Talocha; Pedrinho, Aburjania, Fujimoto; Lino, Leautey; Navarro

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Marco; Ramos, Boateng, Villanueva, Mansur; Carvalho, Nene; Barreto, Lincoln, Antonio; Crysan

We say: Gil Vicente 3-1 Santa Clara

Santa Clara head into this match in good form, having not lost a league game yet in 2022, but Sunday could be the day that run ends, as the hosts have been emphatic recently.

The poor defensive ability of the visitors is something that could prove to be their undoing, allowing Gil Vicente the chance to exploit that and cause problems at the back.