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

Santa Clara will be looking to pick up their first win of the 2022-23 Primeira Liga campaign when they play host to Arouca at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Saturday.

The Arouquences are currently on a six-game losing streak away from home across all competitions and will head into the weekend looking to end this dire run.

Match preview

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Santa Clara failed to get up and running in the 2022-23 Primeira Liga campaign as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Boavista when the sides met at the Estadio do Bessa last Sunday.

In a game where Bruno Almeida and Christian Tassano both received their marching orders, Yusupha Nije and Martim Tavares scored second-half goals to cancel out Rildo's opener and hand the hosts all three points.

Prior to that, Mario Silva's side enjoyed a decent pre-season run, where they picked up two wins and one draw from five friendly games before they were held to a goalless draw by Casa Pia in their league opener on August 7.

Santa Clara now return to their home turf where they are unbeaten in each of their last 12 league games, claiming seven wins and five draws since a 3-0 loss against Porto back in November.

This run has been owing to their impressive defensive performance in front of the home fans where they have kept five clean sheets since their loss to Sergio Conceicao's side, while finding the back of the net on 20 different occasions in that time.

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Arouca, on the other hand, picked up their first win of the new season last Monday when they saw off the threat of Gil Vicente 1-0 on home turf.

After going ahead inside the opening two minutes through Rafa Mujica, the Arouquenses did well to protect their slender lead and see out all three points at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca.

Prior to that, Armando Evangelista's men kicked off their 2022-23 campaign with a disappointing 4-0 defeat at the hands of Benfica on August 5, with goals coming from Enzo Fernandez, Gilberto, and a brace from Rafa Silva.

While Arouca will be looking to make it two wins from two for the first time since March 2021, they head into the weekend on a run of six consecutive defeats away from home in all competitions, shipping 16 goals since March's 2-2 draw at Tondela.

Team News

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Santa Clara will take to the pitch without the duo of Almeida and Tassano, who will both serve a one-match suspension after receiving their marching orders against Boavista last weekend.

On the injury front, Os Acoreanos will have to make do with the absence of Portuguese midfielder Costinha, who has been out of action since last August through an ACL injury.

Goalkeeper Marco Pereira will also play no part in this weekend's matchup as he continues his spell on the sidelines after sustaining an Achilles tendon rupture in April's game against Maritimo.

As for Arouca, Evangelista will be unable to call upon the services of Venezuela international Sema Velazquez, who has been ruled out with an ACL injury that he sustained last September.

He is joined on the club's injury table by the midfield duo of David Simao and Pedro Moreira, who are currently recuperating from knee and muscle injuries respectively.

Croatian defender Nicola Galovic is set to sit out his fifth consecutive game through injury, while Oday Dabbagh, who netted four goals last season, is also out of contention for the Arouquences.

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Pereira; Sagna, Boateng, Quintilla, Henrique; Carvalho, Bobsin; Allano, Adriano, Rildo; Tagawa

Arouca possible starting lineup:

Arruabarrena, Milovanov, Basso, Opoku, Esgaio; Soro, Busquets, Ruiz; Nunes, Bukia, Mujica

We say: Santa Clara 2-1 Arouca

Fresh off the back of picking up their first win of the season, Arouca will head into the weekend with renewed belief as they eye their first consecutive win since their promotion to the Primeira Liga two seasons ago. Os Acoreanos face a Arouca side who found it tough on the road and we predict that they will pick up their first win of the season, albeit by a slender margin.

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