Fresh off the back of picking up their first Primeira Liga win of the season, Santa Clara take a trip to the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques to face Vitoria de Guimaraes on Friday.
The home side, who have lost each of their last three league outings, will head into the weekend desperate to end this dry spell and get their campaign back on track.
Match preview
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Vitoria de Guimaraes failed to find their feet in the Primeira Liga as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Hugh-flying Braga when the sides squared off last Saturday.
Portuguese defender Vitor Tormena came up clutch at the Estadio Braga Municipal as he scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time to hand Os Arcebispos all three points and keep their 100% record in the league intact.
Vitoria de Guimaraes have now suffered defeats in their last three games — their joint-longest losing streak since losing five straight games in April 2021 — since opening the season with consecutive wins over Chaves and Estoril Praia.
This drop-off in form can be pinned to a lack of sting at the attacking end of the pitch, where Joao Teixeira's men have scored just once in their last three games, while shipping four goals in that time.
With six points from their opening five games of the season, Vitaria de Guimaraes are currently 11th in the Primeira Liga standings, two points and four places above Friday's visitors.
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Santa Clara, on the other hand, got their 2022-23 campaign up and running last weekend when they fought back from behind to pick up a 2-1 victory against 10-man Maritimo at the Estadio de Sao Miguel.
In a game where Andre Vidigal received his marching orders, substitute Allano converted his 52nd-minute penalty to cancel out Bruno Xadas's first-half opener before Matheus Babi netted on the hour mark to complete the comeback.
Santa Clara were previously winless in their four games of the season, holding out for a somewhat disappointing goalless draw with newly-promoted Casa Pia in their league opener on August 7 before losing each of their subsequent three outings.
Manager Mario Silva will hope that the victory over O Maior das Ilhas can serve as a springboard for a fine run of form as they look to leapfrog the hosts in the standings this weekend and pick up successive league wins for the first time since February.
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Team News
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Vitoria de Guimaraes will have to make do with the absence of Portuguese midfielder Tomas Handel, who has been out of action since February through a muscle injury.
Miguel Maga came off with a collarbone injury 23 minutes into the game against Portimonense on August 21 and the 19-year-old defender continues his spell on the sidelines.
Safira, who completed a transfer deadline-day move from Belenenses, was handed his debut against Braga last weekend and the 27-year-old should come into the starting XI, adding firepower to the floundering Vitoria de Guimaraes attack.
As far as Santa Clara are concerned, Tomas Domingos's debut continues to be pushed further back as after the 23-year-old defender came off injured in May.
Portuguese midfielder Costinha will also play no part in this weekend's encounter as the 30-year-old continues his long road to full fitness after suffering an ACL injury last year.
While Allano stakes his claim for a starting role with his fine cameo against Maritimo, Babi opened his account for the club in what was his second appearance, and the Athletico Paranaense loanee should spearhead Os Acoreanos' once again.
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Freitas, Fernandes, Amaro, Ogawa; Andre, Bamba; Lameiras, Silva, Luz; Silva
Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Sagna, Ferreira, Boateng, Henrique; Jordao, Carvalho, Bobsin; Ricardinho, Allano, Babi
We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 1-2 Santa Clara
Off the back of claiming their first win of the season, Santa Clara will head into the weekend with renewed belief as they look to put together a fine run of form.
After a solid opening two games, Vitoria de Guimaraes have run out of steam and are currently struggling to grind out results. We are backing Santa Clara to build on last weekend's win and steal a slender victory in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
