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

The Portuguese Primeira Liga returns with a fresh set of fixtures as Santa Clara and Estoril Praia go head to head at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday.

This will be the second meeting between the sides this season after the Canarinhos came from behind twice to salvage a thrilling 2-2 draw back in November's reverse fixture.

Match preview

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Santa Clara were simply outclassed by Porto when the sides met at the Estadio do Dragao last Monday as Sergio Conceicao's side eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira grabbed a first-half brace to put the league leaders two goals up heading into the interval before Zaidu Sanusi put the icing on the cake with an 84th-minute strike.

Prior to that, Mario Silva's men were on a five-game unbeaten run, claiming four draws and one win, while scoring four goals and keeping three clean sheets in that time.

With 31 points from 28 games, Santa Clara are currently 10th in the Primeira Liga standings, three points and three places adrift of Sunday's visitors.

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Elsewhere, Estoril Praia failed to return to winning ways as they fell to a somewhat disappointing 2-1 defeat against Vizela at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota last Saturday.

After Kiko Bondoso put the Vizelenses ahead in the 16th minute, Leonardo Ruiz restored parity 20 minutes later to end the first half level, but Bondoso delivered the goods once again as he struck shortly after the hour mark to hand the visitors all three points and end their seven-game winless run.

This was a second consecutive defeat for Bruno Pinheiro's men, who were beaten 2-1 at Benfica on March 20, when Rafa Silva and Goncalo Ramos put As Aguias ahead before Andre Franco grabbed a 93rd-minute consolation.

Estoril Praia head into the weekend winless in each of their last seven away games across all competitions, losing five and claiming two draws since a 1-0 win over Belenenses back in December.

While they will look to end this dry spell, next up is an opposing side who are currently unbeaten in eight straight home matches, picking up an impressive 17 points from a possible 24.

Team News

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Silva remains unable to call upon Portuguese midfielder Costinha, who continues his spell on the sidelines through an Achilles tendon injury.

Julio Romao is a doubt for Os Acoreanos after the 24-year-old midfielder was hooked off with an injury midway through the game against Porto last weekend.

Should he fail to shake off his injury, Ruben Oliveira could come in for his first starting appearance of the season, teaming up with Nene at the centre of the park.

Ruben Providence will play no part for Estoril Praia as the 20-year-old continues his recovery from an ankle injury that has kept him out of action since last April.

He is joined on the Canarinhos' injury table by Brazilian defender Lucas Africo, who has been sidelined since last November through a knee problem.

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Pereira; Ramos, Tassano, Boateng, Mansur; Nene, Morita; Ricardinho, Crysan, Lincoln; Costa

Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:

Figueira; Soria, Ferraresi, Silva, Joaozinho; Gamboa, Geraldes; Gomes, Franco, Mboula; Ruiz

We say: Santa Clara 1-0 Estoril Praia

Santa Clara will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways as they head home where they have been solid in recent weeks. They face an out-of-sorts Estoril Praia side who have picked up two points from their last six games on the road and we predict they will come away with all three points, albeit by the odd goal.