Maritimo continue their battle for survival in the Primeira Liga as they square off against Rio Ave at the Estadio do Maritimo on Sunday.
The Vilacondenses head into the weekend looking to get one over the hosts, having failed to win any of the last five league meetings between the sides since January 2020.
Match preview
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Maritimo suffered another blow in their battle at the bottom end of the table last Saturday when they were beaten 2-1 by Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio do Maritimo.
Tiago Silva and Andre Silva found the back of the net in either half to put the visitors on their way to a first win in seven matches before substitute Geny Catamo halved the deficit in the 87th minute.
Prior to last week's defeat, Maritimo were on a run of two successive home wins, edging out Boavista 4-2 on April 2, two weeks before picking up a 3-1 victory over fellow strugglers Pacos de Ferreira.
Jose Manuel Gomes's men will now be looking over their shoulders as they sit just two points above 17th-placed Pacos de Ferreira in the automatic relegation zone with four games to go.
However, O Maior das Ilhas head into the weekend knowing that victory could take them within three points of Estoril Praia in safety as they look to extend their 15-year spell in the top flight.
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Rio Ave, on the other hand, picked up a much-needed win to stop the rot as they held their own to see out a 1-0 victory over Arouca last Friday.
Paulo Vitor's 69th-minute effort was enough to separate the two sides at the Estadio dos Arcos and end the Arouquenses' run of eight consecutive matches without defeat.
Rio Ave were previously on a four-matches winless run, claiming two points from a possible 12 and falling behind in the congested mid-table race for European football.
The Vilacondenses' drop-off in form has been owing to their struggles away from home, where they have managed just one win and lost four of their eight outings since the turn of the year.
With just four games left, Luis Freire's men are currently 11th in the Primeira Liga table, 10 points adrift of Arouca in the Europa Conference League qualification spot.
Next up for Rio Ave is a Maritimo side who they have failed to beat in their last five meetings in the league, losing three and claiming two draws since picking up a 2-0 victory in January 2019.
Team News
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Maritimo remain without the services of Czech Republic goalkeeper Matous Trmal, who has been sidelined since December through a severe injury.
Rene Santos and Stefano Beltrame were unused substitutes in last week's game against Vitoria de Guimaraes and could be involved in the action this weekend after recently returning from injury.
Sporting Lisbon loanee Catamo opened his account for O Maior das Ilhas and the 22-year-old attacker could be rewarded with his second league start since his January move.
Renato Pantalon is ruled out of Sunday's game following his red card against Arouca, while striker Emmanuel Boateng is also suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season.
On the injury front, Portuguese midfielder Joca continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury last September.
He is joined on the Vilacondenses' injury table by fellow countryman Bruno Ventura, who has missed the last four matches after coming off injured against Benfica on April 2.
Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Carne; Paulinho, Junior, Mosquera, Brito; Afonso, Xadas; Vidigal, Soares, Correia; Riascos
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; William, Santos, Sa; Costinha, Graca, Oudrhiri, Guga, Ronaldo; Hernani, Pereira
We say: Maritimo 1-1 Rio Ave
Rio Ave endured a rough spell in April but will be looking to build on last Friday's victory over Arouca. As for Maritimo, they will draw inspiration from their recent results in this fixture as they look to pull clear of the automatic drop zone. With that said, we predict an end-to-end affair, with both sides settling for a point apiece.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
