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

Santa Clara play host to Portimonense on Saturday knowing that only a win will do if they want to retain realistic hope of survival in Primeira Liga.

At a time when the home side sit bottom of the standings, the visitors are safe and are looking to ensure that they finish no lower than 14th position.

Match preview

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After last season's top-seven finish, everyone associated with Santa Clara would have had high hopes for this season, but they are now on the brink of relegation back to the second tier.

To their credit, Danildo Accioly's side have shown character in recent games, ending a nine-game losing streak to collect four points from as many matches.

Their first win since November arrived in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Gil Vicente, providing Santa Clara with the confidence to go toe-to-toe with Braga on away territory last time out.

Os Acoreanos valiantly came from 3-1 down at half time to be on level terms with five minutes left, but conceding twice more in the closing stages could prove pivotal.

Santa Clara sit four points adrift of 16th-placed Maritimo with two games left, and defeat on Saturday would confirm their relegation.

Portimonense have had fears of the drop of their own this season, particularly after five-match losing and goalless streak either side of the March international break.

However, Paulo Sergio's side have responded with eight points from six games to ensure that they will be playing top-flight football in 2023-24.

That is not to say that Portimonense are in good form, however, with 4-1 and 5-1 defeats coming to Sporting Lisbon and Benfica in their recent three-match streak without success.

With their goal difference inferior to many of their rivals, it has effectively left Alvinegros with a best-case scenario of 13th place, the position that they achieved last season.

Team News

Accioly must find the balance between sticking with the Santa Clara players which started the Braga game and rewarding those who were influential from the substitutes' bench.

Andrezinho may feel that he did enough to earn just a third start of the campaign, although he is unlikely to take the spot of Matheus Babi in attack.

Kento Misao is in contention for a recall in central midfield, potentially as a replacement for Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Bruno Jordao.

Park Ji-Soo may drop out of the Portimonese back three in a move which lead to a switch to a back four.

Rui Gomes would come back into contention on the left flank, while Paulo Estrela could return to the fold in central midfield.

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Batista; Sagna, Nogueira, Boateng, MT; Misao, Adriano; Silva, Almeida, Ricardinho; Babi

Portimonense possible starting lineup:

Nakamura; Moufi, Alemao, Relvas, Seck; Estrela, Pedrao, Mauricio; Cariello, Gonzalez, Gomes

We say: Santa Clara 1-2 Portimonense

Santa Clara have thrown caution to the win in recent games with mixed results, and it will be the same case here. However, with the pressure off the visitors, we feel that they may stifle their hosts and take advantage on the counter, eventually prevailing by a narrow scoreline.

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