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

Vizela travel south to the Algarve to face SC Farense at the Estadio de Sao Luis in the Primeira Liga on Saturday afternoon.

Just one point separates the two sides in 12th and 14th, in what is a very tight bottom half in Portugal's top flight.

Match preview

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Remarkably, this will be the first-ever league meeting between these sides, who have never crossed paths despite co-existing for almost a century.

They swapped places in the top flight in 2021 when Farense's relegation was paired with Vizela promotion, but now the two are here together.

Farense have returned to the top flight this season following that relegation two years ago but have had a relatively tough start.

Jose Mota's side have lost five of their first seven, but aside from an opening day defeat here to Casa Pia, their home form has actually been rather impressive.

All of their six points so far have come here at the Sao Luis, thanks to big wins over Chaves and Braga.

Farense fought bravely against current league leaders Sporting Lisbon last time out too, playing 71 minutes with 10 men, they came back from 2-0 down to level matters but were ultimately defeated by a 90th-minute Viktor Gyokeres penalty.

Ill discipline cost them there and also cost them in a defeat at Famalicao earlier in the season, so Mota will look to eradicate that edge in his squad.

Farense evidently have laid the foundations to be able to compete at this level, considering they have performed well against three of the big four already, but these are the matches which will determine their fate against sides also near the bottom.

Vizela find themselves ominously close to the drop zone, with goal difference the only thing keeping them above the dotted line at present, ahead of Rio Ave and Estrela.

Only two points separate the bottom seven sides, so there could be drastic movement in and around the bottom this weekend.

Vizela enter the fixture on the back of a dramatic 3-2 defeat at home to Portimonense last weekend - their most disappointing result of the season so far.

Similarly to Farense, Pablo Villar's men fought back from 2-0 down to equalise at 2-2 with five minutes to play, but threw it away just two minutes later.

Villar will hope a 2-2 draw at Estoril in their previous away trip will lead to more positive results on the road, as that point ended a six-game losing streak away from home.

That run started after Vizela won three on the trot away from their home patch to virtually ensure top-flight survival last season, and they ended the season with one of the best away records outside the top four.

Team News

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Goncalo Silva's straight red card in the defeat to Sporting last weekend means he will miss this encounter for Farense.

Zach Muscat or Igor Rossi will be in contention to replace the central defender after both started in the cup win over Tondela last week.

Winger Marco Matias was the only player who kept his place for the league XI following the Tondela win, but Vitor Goncalves may return to the side after he was sent off in that game.

Vizela will be without Algerian international Houssem Mrezigue, who has not yet made his debut since joining on loan from Belouizdad in his homeland.

A foot injury will also keep Orest Lebedenko out, while Congolese forward Dylan Saint-Louis may have to wait a little longer before making his full debut since joining from Hatayspor, despite netting the late equaliser at Estoril.

SC Farense possible starting lineup:

Ricardo Velho; Pastor, Artur Jorge, Igor Rossi, Joao Talocha; Mattheus, Claudio Falcao, Fabricio Isidoro; Belloumi, Bruno Duarte, Marco Matias

Vizela possible starting lineup:

Buntic; Tomas Silva, Bruno Wilson, Anderson, Matheus Pereira; Soro, Busnic, Samu; Nuno Moreira, Essende, Lacava

We say: SC Farense 2-1 Vizela

Home form is set to be vital in the fight against relegation, and Farense have already shown they are capable of picking up big wins here.

Vizela escaped with a draw in their last away outing, but their form on the road over the past few months has been woeful, and they may fall to another defeat here.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.