Looking to pick up their first win since November, relegation-threatened Santa Clara take on Rio Ave at the Estadio de Sao Miguel as round 25 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga gets underway on Friday.
The Vilacondenses, meanwhile, head into the weekend seeking to secure their first away win since the turn of the year and make it back-to-back league wins for the first time since November.
Match preview
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Heading into the season, Santa Clara had not finished below seventh place in the previous two seasons and were on an impressive four-year stint since their return to the top flight in 2018.
However, with 10 games to go before the 2022-23 campaign draws to a close, Danildo Accioly's men are one of the three relegation candidates as they find themselves in a heated bottom-of-the-table scrap.
Santa Clara failed to stop the rot weekend when they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Pacos de Ferreira in a thrilling relegation six-pointer at the Estadio Capital do Movel.
Separated by just three points at the bottom of the table, Vitorino Antunes's 54th-minute penalty was enough to separate both sides as the Pacenses ran out winners on home turf for just the second time this season.
Os Acoreanos have now failed to win any of their last 11 league matches, picking up two points from a possible 33, while they are winless in 15 straight games across all competitions, claiming two draws and losing 13 in that time.
Santa Clara's last win came a little over 16 weeks ago when they came from behind to edge out Estoril Praia 3-1 on November 14 courtesy of goals from Cristian Tassano, Matheus Babi and Kennedy Boateng.
A lack of sting in attack has been a major reason behind Santa Clara's woeful campaign as they have scored the league's joint-fewest goals so far (17) and have failed to find the target in six of their 11 Primeira Liga matches since November's win over Estoril Praia.
The Azores outfit have picked up three wins, six draws and lost 15 of their 24 league matches to collect 15 points and sit 17th in the table, level on points with rock-bottom Pacos de Ferreira and one point behind Maritimo in the relegation playoff spot.
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Rio Ave, on the other hand, moved into the top half of the league table last weekend as they picked up a hard-earned 2-1 win over Gil Vicente when the sides squared off at the Estadio dos Arcos.
In a game where Amine Oudrhiri received his marching orders, Fabio Ronaldo and Costinha scored first-half goals to put the hosts in a commanding lead before Ronaldo scored a 61st-minute own goal to half the deficit.
With their victory over the Gilistas, Luis Freire's men have won each of their last three home games, scoring five goals and keeping two clean sheets since a 1-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon on February 6.
While Rio Ave have asserted dominance at home in recent weeks, they have struggled to get going on the road, where they are without a win this year, picking up three draws and losing two of their five matches since a 1-0 win at Maritimo in the Taca da Liga on December 1.
With 30 points from 24 matches, the Vilacondenses are currently ninth in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with Famalicao and Boavista, and 10 points off the Europa Conference League qualification places.
While Santa Clara follow Friday's game with a trip to Sporting Lisbon, Rio Ave lock horns with league leaders Benfica in a mouth-watering fixture at the Estadio da Luz and both sides will head into the weekend looking to pick up a morale-boosting result.
Team News
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Santa Clara will take to the pitch without the services of veteran goalkeeper Marco Rocha, who has been sidelined since October through a hamstring injury.
He is joined on Os Acoreanos' injury table by Portuguese forward Ricardinho, who has been ruled out since coming off injured in the January's clash against Benfica.
Tomas Domingos, who is yet to make his debut since joining last July, will also play no part in Friday's game as he continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines through an ACL injury.
Meanwhile, Rio Ave will have to cope without 30-year-old midfielder Oudrhiri, who will serve his suspension after picking up a straight red in last week's game against Gil Vicente.
On the injury front, Freire will be unable to call upon 27-year-old midfielder Joca, who has been out of action since last September through a knee injury.
Experienced striker Hernani has also missed the last two matches through an injury and the 31-year-old is a major doubt for the journey to the Estadio de Sao Miguel.
Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Batista; Nanu, Boateng, Italo, Quintilla; Almeida, Firmino, Misao; Ricardinho, Tagawa, Silva
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; Sa, Santos, Pantalon; Costinha, Graca, Guga, Samaris, Ronaldo; Pereira, Boateng
We say: Santa Clara 1-2 Rio Ave
While Rio Ave have been solid at home in recent weeks, they must improve their form on the road if they are to make a late push for a spot in Europe. Buoyed by their win over the Gilistas, we are backing Freire's side to see off the floundering hosts, who have struggled for goals this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
