Preview: Vizela vs. Boavista - prediction, team news, lineups

Fresh off the back of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes, Vizela welcome Boavista to the Estadio do FC Vizela for round four of the Primeira Liga on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a rampant Boavista side will be seeking their third win on the bounce following a 2-0 victory over Santa Clara on Monday.

Match preview

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Vizela were denied a second consecutive win in Primeira Liga on Sunday when they fell to a humbling 4-0 defeat against Vitoria.

Following an uneventful first half at the Dom Afonso Henriques Stadium, Vitoria ran riot in the second half with Andre Andre, Oscar Estupinan, Marcus Edwards and Falaye Sacko getting on the scoresheet to cap off a superb team performance.

Prior to that, the newly-promoted side picked up their first win of the season when they beat Tondela 2-1 on home turf courtesy of goals from Kiko Bondoso and Guilherme Schettine.

Vizela have now lost three of their four games this season, including a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Estrela which condemned them to a first-round exit from the Taca da Liga qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Boavista made it four wins from five games this season when they secured a 2-0 victory over Santa Clara last time out.

Yanis Hamache gave Boavista the lead shortly after the half-hour mark before Gustavo Sauer doubled their lead two minutes after the break to end Santa Clara's three-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

This followed a 3-0 win over Pacos de Ferreira where goals from Yusupha Njie, Javi Garcia and Jeriel De Santis helped Os Axadrezados emphatically bounce back from their disappointing opening-day defeat against Gil Vicente.

Head coach Joao Pedro Sousa will take pride in his side's performance at the defensive end of the pitch as they have kept four clean sheets in their five games across all competitions.

However, Boavista have struggled against the hosts, managing just one extra-time win in their last six meetings, and will be aiming to end this poor string of results and maintain their solid start to the season.

Team News

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Newly-signed defender Ivanildo Fernandes was handed a 19-minute cameo off the bench against Vitoria and the former Almeria man could be handed his full debut on Saturday.

Fellow defender Mohamed Aidara will play no part in the game after sustaining a knee problem in July's Taca da Liga qualification tie against Estrela.

Thirty-two-year-old forward Cassiano is also a major doubt for Vizela after coming off with a 24th-minute injury last time out and should he fail to pass a fitness test, Guilherme Schettine could be handed a place in the starting XI.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Abascal made his debut against Santa Clara last week and the Uruguayan defender could retain his spot in the Boavista starting side at the expense of Ecuadorian defender Jackson Porozo.

Sousa's switch to a back three has provided the visitors with the needed stability in defence as they have kept two clean sheets in their last two outings and Abascal could team up with Javi Garcia and Chidozie Awaziem, who have formed a formidable partnership.

Vizela possible starting lineup:

Charles; Kouao, Kiki, Wilson, Ofori; Guzzo, Claudemir, Samu; Moreira, Schettine, Kiko

Boavista possible starting lineup:

Bracali; Awaziem, Garcia, Abascal; Nathan, Makouta, Remao, Hamache; Gorre, Njie, Sauer

We say: Vizela 1-2 Boavista

​Vizela failed to build on their victory over Tondela as they came crashing back down to earth in a 4-0 loss to Vitoria, and next up for them is a Boavista side who appear to have already found their rhythm.

Boavista's defensive solidity has played a major role in their impressive start to the season and we predict they will keep the juggernaut rolling by claiming a narrow win on Saturday.