Goal-shy Arouca are four places behind new boys AVS in the Primeira Liga standings before Saturday's gameweek eight match at Estadio Municipal de Arouca.
Although Lobos have lost five of their opening seven fixtures to sit one point above the dreaded bottom two positions, success on home soil could take them above the promoted side at the end of the round.
Match preview
Despite defeating Farense in gameweek six, Arouca faced an uphill task against potential Liga contenders Porto last weekend, and so it proved as Gonzalo Garcia's men fell to a 4-0 loss at Estadio do Dragao.
The defeat was their fifth in seven league fixtures, and Arouquenses aim to bounce back from their third loss in four top-flight fixtures.
However, the home support will be aware of their team's inability to find the back of the net consistently enough during this wretched start to the 2024-25 season, underscored by firing blanks in four of seven gameweeks.
With only three goals scored and 12 conceded, Arouca face challenges at both ends of the pitch before hosting AVS, and it remains to be seen if they show improvement at either end in Saturday's fixture.
The away side have had a mixed start since gaining promotion for the first time, ranking in mid-table in the embryonic standings, and could break into the top half with success this weekend and other results going their way.
On the other hand, the Aves-based club could slide close to the danger zone if they lose in Arouca, with their opponents only two points behind.
With the season still in its infancy, the travelling support will hope for a better outcome in their fourth road match since gaining promotion, having fallen to defeats in the previous three.
Vitor Campelos' side have notched three goals on their travels and conceded nine, highlighting their lack of attacking firepower and a defensive weakness whenever they leave Aves, where they remain undefeated in four games (two wins, two draws).
Saturday's match marks the first time these two clubs will meet in the top flight, with AVS seeking revenge for a previous 2-1 loss in the Taca da Liga.
Team News
Arouca have a lengthy injury list, with Eboue Kouassi, Matias Rocha, Henrique Araujo, Quaresma, Pedro Moreira, Oriol Busquets, Vitinho and Nino Galovic all expected to miss out this weekend.
The home side will also do without the suspended Guven Yalcin, whose sending-off at Porto seemingly cost his teammates, who let in four second-half goals at the Dragao following his 43rd-minute dismissal.
AVS have a less severe injury list, with Lucas Piazon possibly joining the pair of Nene and Lucas Moura on the sidelines.
Given Nene's absence through injury and both goalscorers on the road — Kiki (a left-back) and Jaume Grau (a central midfielder) — not expected to play close to the home team's goal, the visiting club must find attacking solutions as they look to arrest a losing start in away games.
Arouca possible starting lineup:
Mantl; Esgaio, Popovic, Fontan, Dante; Fukui, Simao; Rodrigues, Trezza, Sylla; Jason
AVS possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Fonseca, Devenish, Roux, Kiki; Aburjania, Grau, Assuncao; Lopes, Ribeiro, Mercado
We say: Arouca 1-0 AVS
Arouca have netted one league goal in front of their supporters this term — a 1-0 win over promoted Nacional — sandwiched between two losses to Vitoria Guimaraes (1-0) and Sporting (3-0).
A tight, low-scoring match is expected in Arouca, with the home side tipped to win 1-0 and extend AVS's winless streak away from home.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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