Preview: Sport Recife vs. Vasco da Gama - prediction, team news, form guide

Vasco da Gama will be looking to move out of the Brazilian Serie A relegation zone when they continue their campaign away to Sport Recife on Friday night.

The visitors are currently 18th in the table with just 19 points to show from their 18 matches, while Recife currently sit 10th in the division, having picked up 25 points from their 20 fixtures.

Match preview

Seven wins, four draws and nine defeats - that is how Recife have performed in the league this season, picking up 25 points from their 20 matches to sit 10th in the table.

O Leao da Ilha are level on points with ninth-placed Bahia and will be looking to return to winning ways, having shared the points with Ceara in their last game on November 8.

Recife are actually unbeaten in their last three league encounters, but they have been victorious in just one of their last seven, which was a 1-0 home success over Athletico Paranaense at the start of the month.

Having only been promoted back to the top flight for the current season, Jair Ventura's side can be pleased with their campaign thus far. That said, they are only six points clear of the relegation zone and have played two matches more than their opponents on Friday night.

Vasco, meanwhile, are currently 18th in the table, picking up just 19 points from their 18 matches, with just five victories an indication of their struggles thus far.

Gigante da Colina are four-time winners of the Brazilian Serie A, with their last success coming back in 2020; they have struggled in recent years, though, finishing 16th and 12th in the last two campaigns.

Vasco also dropped into the second tier for the 2015-16 season, and there is no getting away from the fact that it has been a disappointing campaign for the club thus far.

Ricardo Sa Pinto's side suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Palmeiras on November 8, while they have not actually been victorious in the league since the middle of September.

Indeed, seven defeats have arrived in their last nine league fixtures, leaving them inside the relegation zone ahead of key matches against Recife and Fortaleza.

Sport Recife Brasileiro form: LLLDWD

Vasco da Gama Brasileiro form: LLLLDL Vasco da Gama form (all competitions): LLWDDL

Team News

Sport Recife

Out: None Doubtful: None

Vasco da Gama

Out: Ramon Motta (muscle) Doubtful: Breno (illness)

We say: Sport Recife 1-1 Vasco da Gama

Vasco have actually won seven of the last 13 matches between the two sides, including a 2-0 success in the reverse game back in August, suffering just three defeats in the process. We are struggling to separate the two teams on this occasion, though, and have therefore predicted a low-scoring draw.

Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data