Fresh off the back of confirming their place in next season's Conference League, Gil Vicente take a trip to the Dom Afonso Henriques to face Vitoria de Guimaraes on Sunday.
The hosts, on the other hand, head into the game on a run of three consecutive draws and will be looking to return to winning ways and close out their 2021-2022 Primeira Liga campaign on a high.
Match preview
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Vitoria de Guimaraes were involved in a share of the spoils for the third game on the trot when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Boavista at the Estadio do Bessa last Friday.
In a game where Abdul Mumin received his marching orders, Oscar Estupinan scored in the 25th minute to put the visitors in front heading into the interval before Paul-Georges Ntep netted in the 70th minute to force a share of the spoils.
Vitoria de Guimaraes are now unbeaten in each of their last four outings, picking up one win and three draws since a 1-0 defeat at the hands of newly-crowned champions Porto when the sides squared off on April 10.
Off the back of an eighth-placed finish last season, manager Pepa will be delighted by his side's 2021-22 campaign as they currently sit sixth in the Primeira Liga standings after picking up 45 points from 33 games.
This can be pinned to their improvement at the attacking end of their pitch as Os Vimaranenses currently hold the division's sixth-best record with 45 goals scored so far — eight more than their 2020-21 tally.
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Meanwhile, Gil Vicente returned to winning ways and confirmed their Conference League ticket last time out when they brushed aside Tondela 3-0 at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos.
Following an uneventful first half, the game sparked to life in the 56th minute when Kanya Fujimoto opened the scoring before Samuel Lino struck twice in a 13-minute spell to cap off a superb team performance.
Prior to that, Ricardo Soares's side were on a run of six games without a win, losing three and picking up three draws, while scoring six goals and shipping 11 in that time.
Gil Vicente have clinched the second Conference League ticket as they sit second in the league standings with 51 points from 33 games, six points above Sunday's hosts just outside the qualification spot.
Next up for the Gilistas is an opposing side who they are unbeaten against in five of the last six meetings between the teams since 2015 — claiming three wins and two draws — with a 2-1 loss in November 2020 being the exception.
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Team News
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Vitoria de Guimaraes will be without Abdul Mumin, who is currently suspended after receiving his marching orders in the game against Boavista last Friday.
On the injury front, Pepa will be unable to call upon Portuguese midfielder Tomas Handel after the 21-year-old came off injured in February's game against Belenenses.
He is joined on the club's injury table by fellow countryman Jorge Fernandes, who is set to sit out his fifth consecutive game after picking up an injury against Porto on April 10.
Meanwhile, Gil Vicente will take to the pitch without Murilo de Souza after the 27-year-old forward suffered an Achilles tendon injury back in January.
With his brace against Tondela last time out, Lino now has 12 league goals and five assists to his name this season and we expect the 21-year-old forward to team up with Fran Navarro and Antoine Leautey up top once again.
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Soares, Borevkovic, Amaro, Maga; Silva, Bamba; Lameiras, Silva, Rochinha; Estupinan
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Carlos, Cunha, Fernandes, Talocha; Carvalho, Pedrinho, Fujimoto; Leautey, Lino, Navarro
We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 1-1 Gil Vicente
Gil Vicente head into the weekend as slight favourites as they are unbeaten in five of the last six meetings between the sides since 2014. However, we predict the hosts will do just enough to force a share of the spoils and end the season unbeaten in five straight games.
For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggesed result please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
