Seeking to pick up successive home wins for the first time this season, Estoril Praia welcome Pacos de Ferreira to the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota in round 21 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday.
The Canarinhos will also be looking to complete a first league double over the visitors since the 2013-14 campaign, having picked up a comfortable 3-0 victory in August's reverse fixture.
Match preview
Estoril Praia failed to make it two wins from two for the first time in 2023 as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Rio Ave when the sides squared off last Monday.
Following a relatively uneventful first half at the Estadio dos Arcos, substitutes Andre Pereira and Joao Graca scored second-half goals to hand the hosts their first win in seven matches.
Prior to that, Estoril Praia snapped their run of three consecutive defeats on February 9 when they secured a 2-1 victory over 10-man Boavista courtesy of goals from Tiago Araujo and Tiago Gouveia.
Estoril Praia have now managed just two wins in their last 16 matches across all competitions, picking up three draws and losing 11 matches, including a 1-0 loss to Benfica on November 9 which saw their Taca de Portugal campaign come to an end.
With 22 points from 20 matches, Nelson Verissimo's men are currently 12th in the Primeira Liga standings, but could move level on points with 10th-placed Vizela with all three points this weekend.
Elsewhere, Pacos de Ferreira's hopes of beating the drop suffered yet another blow as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Portimonense at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao two Mondays ago.
In a game where Maracas received his marching orders, newly-signed midfielder Mauricio opened his account for the Portimao outfit as he came off the bench to net a dramatic 98th-minute winner.
Pacos de Ferreira, who have now failed to score in 11 of their 20 league matches so far, have lost three of their last four outings, with a 2-1 victory over Gil Vicente on January 31 being the exception.
Indeed, Cesar Peixoto's side currently holds the league's worst attacking record with just 12 goals scored so far, while they have allowed 36 at the opposite end of the pitch — only Maritimo (37) have conceded more.
Pacos de Ferreira have picked up two wins, three draws and lost 15 of their 20 matches to collect nine points and sit rooted to the bottom of the league table, nine points behind Santa Clara just above the automatic relegation places.
Team News
Off the back of an impressive cameo, Joao Carlos, who has three goal involvements in five starts, could challenge striker Cassiano for the starting shirt on Saturday.
Francisco Geraldes, Joao Gamboa and Joao Carvalho should all regain their roles at the heart of the park, while we expect an unchanged centre-back pairing of Pedro Alvaro and Edson Mexer shielding Daniel Figueira in goal.
Pacos de Ferreira will be without Brazilian defender Maracas, who will serve a one-game suspension after picking up a red card against Portimonense last time out.
In his absence, 24-year-old defender Erick Ferigra will push for a starting role, forming the back four with Juan Delgado, Nuno Lima and Vitorino Antunes.
Rui Pires, who has started 18 league matches this season, should retain his role at the centre of the park, while we expect an unchanged attacking trio of Nigel Thomas, Adrian Butzke and Nicolas Gaitan.
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Figueira; Vital, Mexer, Alvaro, Santos; Gamboa, Carvalho, Geraldes; Araujo, Gouveia, Carlos
Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Marafona; Delgado, Lima, Ferigra, Antunes; Carlos, Holsgrove, Pires; Gaitan, Butzke, Thomas
We say: Estoril Praia 2-1 Pacos de Ferreira
While Pacos de Ferreira will be looking to stop the rot, they face an Estoril Praia side who have been solid at home in recent weeks. A run of two wins in three matches should have the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota buzzing this weekend and we predict that the Canarinhos will come away with all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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