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

SC Farense host Santa Clara in the Primeira Liga on Thursday evening, hoping for a win to move them off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Santa Clara are looking to secure their third successive league win and move closer to the top six.

Match preview

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Farense come into this clash after suffering their sixth away defeat of the season, losing 2-0 to Tondela last weekend.

The Lions of Faro are yet to adjust to life back in the top flight for the first time in 18 years, with a lack of consistency preventing them from escaping danger.

However, with just six points separating themselves at the foot of the table and eighth-placed Moreirense, Sergio Vieira's side are aware that a few positive results could catapult them up the league standings.

Farense have relied heavily on their home form to accumulate points this season, claiming 11 of their 12 Primeira Liga points at the Estadio de Sao Luis.

The last time they faced Santa Clara was back in the 2001-02 campaign, with Farense winning their home encounter by a 1-0 scoreline.

Securing three points on Thursday could provide Farense with a huge boost for the rest of the season, and would move them out of the relegation zone, potentially as high as 12th in the table.

Santa Clara secured successive league wins for the first time since September after beating Belenenses 2-0 on Monday night.

An early penalty converted by Crysan was followed by a late stoppage time own goal from Diogo Calila, which sealed all three points for Daniel Ramos's side.

Since their promotion to the top flight in 2018, Santa Clara have been slowly progressing each year, with 10th and ninth-placed finishes in the last two years and at the moment this is being surpassed by their current position in seventh.

As things stand, there is a seven-point gap between the Azoreans and the top six, however with 18 games still left to play, a good run of form could see them break into the Europa League positions.

Unlike Farense, Santa Clara have performed better away from home, claiming 13 of their 21 points on the road.

A win for Ramos's men, who have lost just one of their last seven away matches in all competitions, could move them four points behind Pacos de Ferreira, who they face in two weeks' time, in sixth.

SC Farense Primeira Liga form: LDLWLL

Santa Clara Primeira Liga form: LDDLWW Santa Clara form (all competitions): DWLWLW

Team News

Farense talisman Ryan Gauld, who has four goals and four assists in the league this season, is set to remain in the side, while striker Nikola Stojiljkovic is likely to be recalled to the starting lineup.

Defender Claudio Falcao, who played in central midfield against Tondela, is set to compete with Filipe Melo for a place in Sergio Vieira's starting lineup.

Santa Clara midfielder Julio Romao, who last featured for the club in early December, remains out with a knee injury.

Daniel Ramos may decide to name the same starting XI that beat Belenenses last weekend.

SC Farense possible starting lineup: Defendi; Pinto, Bura, Scheid, Nunes; Oudrhiri, Melo; Lica, Gauld, Queta; Stojiljkovic

Santa Clara possible starting lineup: Pereira; Ramos, Cardoso, Villanueva, Mansur; Nene, Morita; Junior, Lincoln, Allano; Crysan

We say: SC Farense 1-2 Santa Clara

After two victories in the last week, Santa Clara will come into this game with a level of optimism and confidence that they can secure their third win in a row against a Farense outfit at the foot of the table. The hosts have performed well on home soil so far this campaign, but the visitors should have enough quality to seal a narrow victory on Thursday.