Two sides who picked up victories last weekend square off on Saturday as Boavista play host to Arouca at the Estadio do Bessa in round 29 of the Primeira Liga.

The Arouquenses will head into the game seeking to complete a league double over the hosts after picking up a 2-1 victory back in November's reverse fixture.

Match preview

Boavista returned to winning ways in the Primeira Liga when they saw off Famalicao 2-1 at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao last Saturday.

After Gustavo Sauer broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 16th minute, Petar Musa struck 20 minutes later to put the visitors two goals up heading into half time before Venezuelan forward Jhonder Cadiz pulled one back for the Vila Nova in the 48th minute.

Prior to that, Os Axadrezados played out consecutive draws against Braga and Belenenses respectively before falling to a 1-0 loss against Porto on March 20 which saw their six-game unbeaten run come to an end.

The win saw Petit's side leapfrog Portimonense in the Primeira Liga standings as they now sit in 11th place with 30 points, one point adrift of Santa Clara in the top half of the table.

While Boavista will look to keep the juggernaut rolling, they have struggled to get going on home turf, where they are currently on a six-game winless run, stretching back to December's 1-0 win over Moreirense.

Like the hosts, Arouca returned to winning ways last time out when they defeated a spirited Gil Vicente side 2-1 at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca.

The game sparked into life 10 minutes into the second half as Brazilian forward Andre Silva struck twice in a four-minute spell to put the Arouquenses in a comfortable lead before Lucas Cunha grabbed a 92nd-minute consolation.

Prior to that, Armando Evangelista's side were on a run of four games without a win, picking up two draws and losing two while conceding six goals and scoring three in that time.

With 26 points from 28 games, Arouca are currently 15th in the league standings, with a two-point cushion over 16th-placed Tondela in the relegation playoff spot.

The Arouquenses' struggles have come majorly at the defensive end of the pitch, where they possess the division's second-poorest record with 49 goals conceded already.

Team News

Boavista will have to cope without the services of Sauer, who has six goals under his belt this season, after the Brazilian forward picked up a late red card against Famalicao last time out.

On the injury front, 27-year-old Kenji Gorre was forced off with an 80th-minute injury in the aforementioned game and is a doubt for this weekend's encounter.

The midfield duo of Yanis Hamache and Miguel Reisinho are also out of contention for Os Axadrezados as they continue their spells on the sidelines through muscle and knee injuries respectively.

Meanwhile, Arouca head into the game with several absentees down the spine of the team as the likes of goalkeeper Fernando Augusto, defender Jose Manuel Velazquez and midfielder Moses Yaw are all recuperating from injuries.

Twenty-four-year-old midfielder Eboue Kouassi is also set to sit out his fifth consecutive game through injury, while Portuguese midfielder Pedro Moreira misses out after coming off injured in the 23rd minute against Tondela on March 19.

David Simao also adds to the Arouquenses midfield crisis as the 31-year-old is currently suspended after receiving his marching orders in the 2-1 win over the Gilistas last Saturday.

Boavista possible starting lineup:
Bracali; Ferreira, Cannon, Porozo, Abascal, Santos; Makouta, Santis, Perez; Musa, Morais

Arouca possible starting lineup:
Braga; Esgaio, Basso, Galovic, Araujo; L Silva, Moreira, Pite; Bukia, Nunes, A Silva

We say: Boavista 1-1 Arouca

Both sides head into the game fresh off the back of ending their three-game winless run and will be seeking to keep the ball rolling. However, Boavista have failed to win any of their most recent six home games, claiming five draws in that time and we predict the spoils will be shared once again on Saturday.

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