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

Vitoria de Guimaraes will hope their return from the international break marks a turnaround in their uphill chase for a European finish as they welcome relegation-threatened Tondela to Estadio D. Afonso Henriques for Primeira Liga round 28 on Friday.

The Conquerors currently sit ninth in the Portuguese top-flight standings, a significant 13 points behind fifth place, while the Gold and Green are second from bottom and four adrift of safety, though only two behind the playoff spot with a game in hand.

Match preview

An end to a 13-year wait for silverware, followed by mixed results and now a prolonged winless stretch, Vitoria have taken supporters through a rollercoaster of emotions in 2026, with recent league form contributing to a managerial change.

Replacing Luis Pinto, who was dismissed after a three-match run without success (D1, L2), Gil Lameira has yet to spark an upturn since stepping up from the club’s B team, losing both games in charge, including a 3-0 defeat at Benfica last time out.

The Guimaraes outfit have therefore lost seven of their last 10 matches (W2, D1) since the Taca da Liga triumph in January, with six of those defeats coming after conceding at least twice, while scoring in four of the setbacks, pointing to defensive vulnerabilities.

Facing a relegation-battling opponent this weekend offers encouragement, particularly as Vitoria secured a 1-0 success in the reverse fixture, although defeats in two of their last three home meetings (W1) with Tondela provide a note of caution.

The Conquerors have also failed to win three of their last five matches at Afonso Henriques, including the most recent two, raising further doubts about their chances of claiming maximum points on Friday.

Tondela, like their hosts, have recently undergone a managerial change, with this weekend’s clash marking Goncalo Feio’s first game in charge following Cristiano Bacci’s departure.

The Italian coach left the Beira outfit after failing to win his final three outings (D2, L1), with the Gold and Green drawing blanks in the last two, including a goalless stalemate against basement side AVS in a relegation six-pointer just before the international break.

Arriving as the club’s third manager since promotion at the start of the campaign, Feio can at least build on a resilient sequence that has yielded only one defeat in seven matches (W1, D5).

While victories have been scarce, the new boss will also look to improve attacking output, with the Gold and Green failing to score in six of their last 10 fixtures, leaving them with the second worst offensive record in the division on just 19 goals.

Tondela have, however, shown improvement away from home recently, netting exactly twice in each of their last two trips while collecting four points from six available, and Feio will hope that momentum continues in his first match at the helm.

Vitoria de Guimaraes Primeira Liga form:

Tondela Primeira Liga form:

Team News

Vitoria enter this encounter without fresh injury concerns, with most of the squad benefiting from rest during the international window.

Telmo Alcanjo, who happens to be an exception, was an unused substitute in Cape Verde’s second FIFA Series fixture on Monday, meaning the winger should still be well rested.

Defender Oscar Rivas returned from a lengthy layoff in the defeat to Benfica and could retain his place for a second successive appearance.

Tondela also had limited international involvement, though Yaya Sithole and Remi Vita have returned apparently unscathed after representing South Africa and Comoros, respectively.

However, midfielders Hugo Felix and Cicero, along with winger Roni Lopez, remain sidelined with muscle injuries, while Helder Tavares, who was forced off against AVS two weeks ago, is a doubt.

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:

Charles; Strata, Balieiro, Rivas, Mendes; Beni, G Nogueira; G Silva, Samu, Saviolo; Oliveira

Tondela possible starting lineup:

Bernardo; Silva, Marques, Medina; Bebeto, Hodge, Rodriguez, Conceicao; Maranhao, Aiko; Siebatcheu

We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 1-1 Tondela

Neither side enters this contest in strong form, and with recent managerial changes on both benches, it is difficult to separate them.

Although Lameira has had time to begin implementing his ideas, Vitoria’s recent struggles could persist, making a draw a likely outcome, particularly given the number of stalemates in Tondela’s recent run.

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