Just two places separate Vitoria de Guimaraes and Braga in the Primeira Liga table going into Monday's Derby do Minho between the Europe-chasing hosts and title outsiders at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques.
Vitoria played out a goalless encounter at Casa Pia last time out, while Braga claimed a third successive league victory in the 2-0 success over Arouca before exiting the Europa Conference League on Thursday following a 7-2 aggregate defeat by Fiorentina.
Match preview
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Anyone could have foreseen the preceding weekend's 0-0 draw between Casa Pia and Vitoria, owing to their identical records, with 20 goals conceded by both and the latter scoring one more than Casapianos' 18.
Vitoria needed to avoid losing at Estadio Pina Manique to remain in fifth place, an outcome that also saw them hold on to the league's final European slot.
Moreno Teixeira's team were helped by rivals Braga, whose victory over Arouca prevented the latter from lessening the Conquerors' four-point gap over the seventh-placed outfit.
Thus, it is as you were for Vitoria heading into Monday's derby, where they look to secure consecutive home victories against the visitors in the league for the first time since 2015, having claimed a 2-1 triumph in the corresponding fixture last season.
The Conquerors and Braga are separated by just two points on the form table, with last weekend's draw at Casa Pia leaving Moreno's side with 12 points from an available 15 in recent games. Only the division's leading four sides have claimed more in the last five gameweeks.
As for Monday's visitors, a reaction will be hoped for after exiting the Conference League on Thursday. Last week's 4-0 home loss at the hands of Fiorentina left them with an uphill task in Florence, needing four goals without reply to force extra time.
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The 3-2 defeat against the Viola meant Artur Jorge's men fell to only their third loss in 2023, although that number becomes one when domestic fixtures are considered.
Braga have secured maximum points in seven of their eight matches since the turn of the year, with the 5-0 annihilation by Sporting Lisbon the sole Primeira Liga disappointment suffered.
Only Benfica and Porto — the clubs occupying first and second — have picked up more points than the Archbishops' 18 since the start of January, one shy of the leading pair. That said, Braga's recent instability in defence could be a worry on Monday.
Jorge's team have kept only one clean sheet in five games, having had three shutouts on the trot preceding the ongoing run. Braga will hope last week's success in keeping Arouca from scoring proves to be the fillip for another sequence without conceding.
The reverse fixture between the clubs in September ended 1-0 to the side in third, who then triumphed 3-2 in last month's Taca de Portugal encounter.
Team News
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Having missed the draw at Casa Pia through suspension, Vitoria centre-back Ibrahima Bamba should return to the team for his 19th league start of the season, replacing Mamadou Tounkara in defence.
The hosts are still without Tomas Handel and Ze Carlos, with the latter not expected back until April.
Moreno welcomed back Mikel Villanueva to training this week following the defender's non-appearance last time out, signalling a return to the 3-4-3, having utilised a 4-2-3-1 in Bamba and the Venezuelan's absence.
Ricardo Horta, Bruma and Abel Ruiz were left out of the Braga lineup on Thursday, but the trio are expected to return in the derby.
Vitor Tormena was absent in Europe through suspension, and the centre-back should be reinstated by Jorge, with his ban not applying to domestic competition.
The Archbishops are likely to start with a 4-4-2.
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Amaro, Bamba, Villanueva; Maga, Silva, Silva, Freitas; Silva, Safira, Silva
Braga possible starting lineup:
Matheus; Gomez, Oliveira, Tormena, Sequeira; Bruma, Racic, Al Musrati, Horta; Banza, Ruiz
We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 0-1 Braga
Vitoria have conceded the joint-third fewest home goals in the Portuguese top flight — notably holding out to a goalless draw against Benfica and losing 1-0 to Porto — keeping six clean sheets in 11 fixtures at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques.
However, Braga are the division's top scorers away from home, and that consistency in finding the back of the net on their travels should produce a slender victory in the derby.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
