Estoril Praia will be desperate to snap their run of five consecutive defeats when they welcome Pacos de Ferreira to the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Monday.

The visitors, on the other hand, will head into the game aiming to rise into the top half of the Primeira Liga standings, where they currently sit in 12th place with 19 points so far.

Match preview

After a sensational start to life in the big leagues, when they opened the season with four wins and one draw from their opening five league games, Estoril Praia appear to have finally run out of steam.

The newly-promoted side were left empty-handed once again when they bottled their lead and fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Arouca on home turf last Thursday.

After holding a one-goal lead for most of the game courtesy of Abdoulaye Ba's sixth-minute own goal, Bruno Pinheiro's side simply crumbled in the final minutes of the game as Andre Silva levelled matters in the 89th minute before Kouassi Eboue scored a dramatic winner in the 97th minute.

While the Canarinhos are winless in six straight games since beating Belenenses 1-0 on December 12, they have now lost each of their most recent five games on the spin, including a 3-1 loss against Tondela on December 21 which saw them bow out of the Taca de Portugal.

The game against the Arouquenses sums up Estoril Praia's recent struggles as their slump in form has been owing to their defensive frailties as they have managed just one clean sheet in their last nine games across all competitions, while shipping 18 goals in that time.

For all their recent struggles, Monday's hosts are currently seventh in the Primeira Liga standings, level on 25 points with Portimonense after 19 rounds of matches so far.

Pacos de Ferreira, meanwhile, failed to find their feet last time out when they were held to a 1-1 draw by a dogged Boavista side on home turf.

In a cagey affair at the Estadio Capital do Movel, Vitorino Antunes calmly converted from 12 yards to put the hosts ahead on the stroke of half time before Kenji Gorre restored parity with five minutes left to play.

Cesar Peixoto's men have now failed to taste victory in three consecutive games, picking up two draws and one defeat, while they have managed just two wins in their last 13 outings across all competitions.

With 19 points from 19 games, the Pacenses are currently 12th on the log, level on points with Boavista and Vizela, and one point below Santa Clara in the top half of the standings.

Pacos de Ferreira's struggles so far has been in no small part owing to their lack of sting at the attacking end of the pitch, where they boast the league's second-worst record with just 14 goals scored to date.

Team News

Lucas Africo remains out of contention for Estoril Praia as the Brazilian defender saw his season cut short following a severe injury against Vizela back in November.

Other than the 26-year-old, the Canarinhos head into this clash with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns, giving Pinheiro the luxury of a relatively full strength squad once again.

As for Pacos de Ferreira, they will once again need to make do without the services of Portuguese defender Joao Vigario, who has been out of action since last August through a severe knee problem.

Fellow countryman Jorge Silva is another name on the Pacenses' injury list after the 25-year-old defender picked up an injury against Tondela back in December.

Flavio, who last featured for Peixoto's side back in November's 2-0 defeat at Maritimo, will continue his spell on the sidelines after picking up a muscle problem.

First-choice goalkeeper Andre Ferreira missed the game against Famalicao last time out after recently sustaining an injury, and should the 25-year-old fail to recover in time for Monday's game, Jeimes could start in goal for the second game running.

Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Silva; Bruno, Patrick, Vital, Joaozinho; Loreintz, Gamboa, Baro; Gomes, Fonte, Laurenco

Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Jeimes; Antunes, Maracas, Baixinho, Delgado; Carlos, Eustaquio; Silva, Uilton, Santos; Denilson

We say: Estoril Praia 1-2 Pacos de Ferreira

After a brilliant start to life in the Primeira Liga, Estoril Praia appear to have run out of steam in recent weeks as they find themselves struggling to string together a decent run of form. Despite being lower in the standings, Pacos de Ferreira head into the game as the more in-form side and we are tipping them to claim the win and heap more misery on the floundering hosts.

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