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

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Taca de Portugal clash between Mafra and Moreirense, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Moreirense head into Thursday's last-16 tie with Mafra in the Taca de Portugal looking to find some form after a disastrous run in Primeira Liga.

While the visitors sit in 17th position in the top flight, Mafra occupy sixth place in the second-tier standings.


Match preview

After finishing in eighth spot in Portugal's top flight last season, Moreirense would have had high hopes of another top-half finish this time around.

However, the Green and Whites have won just one of their 14 league games this season, their current streak without success lasting seven matches.

Of the three points that they have collected during that period, they have twice needed to come from behind, highlighting that Lito Vidigal's side have had to fight hard to remain within three points of moving outside of the drop zone.

On the plus side, they have not conceded more than twice in a league game since shipping five times at Porto on September 19.

Moreirense have reached this stage of the competition with 3-2 victories over Oriental Dragon and Vitoria de Guimaraes, although the latter of those wins was more comfortable than it appears with two consolation goals coming from the 89th minute onwards.

While Mafra have progressed through to the last 16 without conceding a goal, they are yet to face a Primeira Liga side, their ties being against Sertanense, Unaio de Coimbra and Vilafranquense.

Nevertheless, at a time when they are challenging for promotion to the top flight, Ricardo Sousa and his players will have every belief that they can cause a surprise on Thursday.

Just one defeat has been posted in 10 games, at home to struggling Farense, but they have recorded just six wins from their 15 league outings.

The goals have been shared around this squad with defender Guilherme Ferreira the club's top goalscorer in the second tier with five strikes.

Mafra form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D

Moreirense form (all competitions):
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L



Team News

Having only posted a 2-2 draw against bottom-of-the-table Academica at the weekend, Sousa will consider making several changes to his Mafra XI.

Bruno Silva appears to be a likely replacement for Leandrinho, while Kikas may be brought in for Pedro Lucas in the final third.

Despite not making a league start all season, Nikola Jambor and Sori Mane could be given an opportunity in central midfield for Moreirense.

Rodrigo Conceicao is an option at right-back, while Andre Luis could return to the starting lineup after missing the game at Boavista due to injury.

Mafra possible starting lineup:
Santos; Bura, Ferreira, Pacheco, Barcelos, Domingos, Silva, Aparicio, Andrezinho, Martins, Lucas

Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Conceicao, Rosic, Vitoria, Conte; Jambor, Mane; Pires, Soares, Walterson; Luis


SM words green background

We say: Mafra 1-2 Moreirense

Neither team can claim to be anywhere near their best form, and it should lead to a tense match at Estadio Municipal de Mafra. While there is every chance of an upset, we are backing the visitors to edge this fixture by the odd goal in three.

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Who will win Thursday's Taca de Portugal clash between Mafra and Moreirense?

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