Preview: Vitoria de Guimaraes vs. Portimonense - prediction, team news, lineups

Saturday sees Vitoria de Guimaraes host Portimonense at Estadio D. Alfonso Henriques, as the visitors look to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

The hosts currently sit in sixth place in the table having beaten Tondela 2-0 last time out, while the visitors are in 15th after their 1-0 win against CD Nacional.

Match preview

Vitoria de Guimaraes have lost their last two home league matches against Braga and Sporting Lisbon, but secured a welcome win away to Tondela last time out, thanks to two second-half goals.

This will be Joao Henriques's sixth game in charge, having achieved a mixed bag of results so far since replacing Tiago in October.

Two away wins have been marred by two home defeats and an unconvincing cup victory over Arouca in the Taca de Portugal, after the tie went to penalties.

Centre-forward Bruno Duarte, who has found his goalscoring touch of late, will be the man to watch in the home team as they look to keep hold of their spot in the European qualifying places.

From Portimonense's perspective, they will be pleased with their win over Nacional at the weekend, with Paulo Sergio's team breaking free of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

A penalty in the 89th minute secured all three points for Sergio's men after Nacional were reduced to 10 men in the 88th minute.

The Black and Whites look set to face another relegation battle this season, and will not be buoyed by their loss to third division outfit UD Leiria, who narrowly beat them by a 1-0 scoreline.

In the last meeting between these two sides in the Portuguese top flight Vitoria Guimaraes defeated Portimonense 1-0, with a Duarte goal enough to separate the two sides.

Vitoria de Guimaraes Primeira Liga form: WWLWLW Vitoria de Guimaraes form (all competitions): WLWLWW

Portimonense Primeira Liga form: LWLLLW Portimonense form (all competitions): WLLLLW

Team News

Henriques does not have any fresh injury concerns and will likely head into this fixture unchanged.

If this is the case, he will be hoping his side can put in a similar performance to the one that saw them come out victorious last weekend.

Portimonense midfielder Lucas Fernandes has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, with fellow Brazilian Luquinha set to deputise once more.

Defender Fahd Moufi and midfielder Pedro Sa are available and are both likely to start on Sunday.

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup: Varela; Sacko, Fernandes, Suliman, Silvio; Poha, Agu, Andre; Edwards, Duarte, Quaresma

Portimonense possible starting lineup: Samuel; Moufi, Antonio, Willyan, Cande; Dener, Luquinhas, Sa; Oliveira, Fabricio, Morte

We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 2-0 Portimonense

These two teams look destined to fight it out at different ends of the table this season, and we expect the gulf in class to show, with Guimaraes coming out on top.

Top betting tip

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