Preview: Moreirense vs. Nacional - prediction, team news, lineups

Nacional make the trip to Moreirense on Thursday still sitting five points away from moving outside of the Primeira Liga relegation zone.

Despite four matches without success, the home side will feel that victory against the bottom-placed team will keep them in the hunt for sixth position.

Match preview

For a team who have scored less than a goal per game throughout the season, Moreirense are arguably punching above their weight in eighth spot.

Nevertheless, with three of their remaining four opponents being below them in the standings, Vasco Seabra knows that there is an opportunity to finish higher than their current position.

A 2-0 defeat at rivals Vitoria de Guimaraes is a significant blow with the result extending their recent run to just one win in eight fixtures.

However, with a point against Porto still fresh in the memory, the Green and Whites should have the belief to overcome their struggling opponents.

Top goalscorers Rafael Martins has contributed just two strikes and one assist in his last nine appearances.

As far as Nacional are concerned, they are almost at the point where only victories will do if they want to survive in the Primeira Liga.

With seven points the gap to 15th position, earning a place in the relegation playoff is realistically their best-case scenario with potential rivals Famalicao to come in their penultimate game.

Manuel Machado's side must first negotiate the contest on Thursday, a fixture which is taking place before the visit of Benfica five days later.

While the White and Black were only seven minutes away from earning something against leaders Sporting Lisbon at the weekend, conceding two late goals has upped the stakes ahead of the trip to Estadio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.

Team News

Seabra will consider making changes to his Moreirense starting lineup after their poor performance in the last game.

Walterson, Abdu Conte and Filipe Soares could all be handed opportunities after being called upon during the second half at Guimaraes.

Nacional will have to make do without Abdullahi Ibrahim Alhassan after the midfielder was dismissed for two yellow cards against Sporting.

Nuno Borges could return to the side as his replacement, while Eber Bessa is an alternative to Ruben Micael.

Bryan Rochez may also get the nod ahead of Joao Camacho if Machado sticks with a 3-4-1-2 formation.

Moreirense possible starting lineup:

Pasinato; Ferraresi, Rosic, Ba; D'Alberto, Pacheco, Simao, Figueiredo; Walterson, Martins, Yan

Nacional possible starting lineup:

Filipe; Pedrao, Cesar, Correia; Freitas, Borges, Azouni, Witi; Micael; Rochez, Riascos

We say: Moreirense 1-0 Nacional

Despite their setback at Sporting last time out, Nacional will still possess the confidence which came from their previous victory.

Nevertheless, we still expect the home side to prevail in this encounter, potentially by a solitary goal.