On a dire run of six consecutive defeats in their opening six games of the 2022-23 Primeira Liga campaign, Pacos de Ferreira visit the Estadio de Sao Miguel to face Santa Clara on Saturday.
The home side, on the other hand, head into the weekend seeking to make it two wins from two successive home games in the league for the first time since January.
Match preview
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Santa Clara were sent crashing down to earth in the Primeira Liga as they suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes last Friday.
Brazilian forward Anderson Silva came up clutch at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques as he netted the only goal of the game to end Os Vimaranenses' run of three consecutive defeats.
Prior to that, Santa Clara picked up their first win of the campaign when they saw off 10-man Maritimo 2-1 on September 4 to end their run of one draw and three defeats from the first four games.
Mario Silva's men, who secured an impressive seventh-placed finish last season and missed out on a place in Europe by just two points, are currently 15th in the league standings after picking up four points from the first 18 available.
However, Santa Clara will be backing themselves to grab the desired result this weekend as they return home where they are unbeaten in 12 of their last 13 games across all competitions in 2022, claiming six wins and six draws in that time.
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Off the back of a somewhat disappointing 11th-placed finish in the Primeira Liga last season, Pacos de Ferreira would have hoped for a better and more promising start to the 2022-23 campaign.
However, Cesar Peixoto's side head into the weekend as one of just two sides yet to pick up any points this season, losing each of their opening six games, including a 3-2 loss against newly-promoted Casa Pia.
After taking a 1-0 lead into half time courtesy of Adrian Butzke's 17th-minute opener, the visitors upped the ante after the interval, with Savior Godwin, Neto and Clayton scoring in a 16-minute spell to turn things around, before Butzke grabbed his second of the game to reduce the deficit.
Pacos de Ferreira head into the weekend on a run of eight consecutive defeats in the Primeira Liga, while they have lost each of their last three visits to the Estadio de Sao Miguel, scoring just once while shipping seven goals since February 2020.
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Team News
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Santa Clara will have to cope without former Belenenses defender Diogo Calila, who has missed the last two games after coming off injured in the game against Famalicao on August 28.
Portuguese midfielder Costinha remains out of contention for Os Acoreanos as he continues his long road to recovery after suffering an ACL injury last August.
Summer signing Tomas Domingos continues to await his debut after sustaining an injury while in action for Mafra against Varzim in the Segunda Liga back in May.
On the other hand, Pacos de Ferreira's injury crisis continues as the defensive trio of Tiago Ilori, Jorge Silva and Pedro Ganchas all continue their spells on the sidelines.
Former Atletico Madrid midfielder Nicolas Gaitan is set to sit out his fifth consecutive game after the 34-year-old was forced off inside the opening 15 minutes against Portimonense on August 15.
Another name on the Pacenses' injury list is Brazilian goalkeeper Jordi, who has been sidelined since August, meaning that 24-year-old Igor Vekic could be handed his third starting appearance of the season.
Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Sagna, Ferreira, Boateng, Henrique; Jordao, Carvalho, Bobsin; Ricardinho, Allano, Babi
Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Oliveira; Fonseca, Ramos, Lima, Antunes; Pires, Ibrahim, Delgado; Thomas, Kayky, Koffi
We say: Santa Clara 2-1 Pacos de Ferreira
While Pacos de Ferreira will be looking to end their dire run and get their campaign up and running, they take a trip to the bogey Estadio de Sao Miguel, where they have lost their last three visits. We are backing Santa Clara to continue their fine home run and claim all three points, heaping more misery on the struggling visitors.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
