Preview: Tondela vs. Maritimo - prediction, team news, lineups

Tondela entertain Maritimo in the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Tuesday evening as both sides look to end their poor run of recent form.

The hosts fell to a 2-1 defeat when they travelled to Rio Ave last time out, while Milton Mendes's men were seen off by Santa Clara.

Match preview

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The Estadio Joao Cardoso outfit have been struggling of late, picking up just three points from a possible 12 and losing back-to-back games prior to this midweek encounter.

Their 18-point haul after 18 games of the campaign has the CDT Auriverdes sitting in 12th position, just two points above the relegation zone.

Conceding too many goals has been the major issue for Pako Ayestaran's men this season. Their defensive record is the third-worst in the division and needs addressing if they are to halt their slide towards the drop zone.

Tondela will be viewing this upcoming clash as the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways and put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom three, but their opponents will have similar plans.

Maritimo are currently enduring a torrid time, having lost their last five fixtures in all competitions.

The penalty Diederrick Joel Tagueu dispatched last time out was his side's first goal in over 330 minutes of Primeira Liga action.

Their recent slump has seen them plummet down the league standings and the Estadio do Maritimo side are now only one point above Portimonense, who occupy the relegation playoff place.

Only a single point and place separate these two teams, and both will harbour ambitions of securing an important victory on Tuesday in what could prove to be a pivotal match in both clubs' respective seasons.

Tondela Primeira Liga form: LWLWLL

Maritimo Primeira Liga form: LWLLLL Maritimo form (all competitions): WLLLLL

Team News

Twenty-year-old goalkeeper Joel Sousa will be unavailable for Tondela on Tuesday after the youngster returned a positive COVID-19 test result and was forced into self-isolation.

He is the only absentee for Ayestaran, though, and the Spanish head coach could choose to change things up given his side's struggle for form.

Maritimo will have to cope without the services of Rodrigo Pinho after the centre-forward picked up an ankle injury at the start of the month and has failed to recover from it in time for this one.

Striker Tagueu scored his first strike in six outings against Santa Clara, and he will be hoping it is the start of some goalscoring form that eases his side's woes in front of goal.

Tondela possible starting lineup: Niasse; Ferreira, Suarez, Medioub, Bebeto; Grau; Murillo, Pedro, Augusto, Arcanjo; Barbosa

Maritimo possible starting lineup: Secco; Soderstrom, Junior, Africo, Hermes; Pelagio, Jean, Correa; Macedo, Joel, Milson

We say: Tondela 2-1 Maritimo

This is bound to be a closely fought contest between two teams in desperate need of some points and a positive performance. We fancy Tondela to pick up the win on home soil and leave the visitors facing a tricky task in the second half of the season.