Moreirense and Santa Clara are separated by four places in the Primeira Liga standings heading into Saturday's gameweek eight clash at Parque Desportivo Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.
The home side head into this weekend on the back of another disappointing result last time out when they made it five league games without success and are underdogs against this season's early-season surprise package from Ponta Delgada.
Match preview
Despite claiming consecutive Liga wins to start the new campaign, that early optimism is long gone in Moreira de Conegos due to a five-game run without maximum points (two draws, three defeats).
The latest reverse was especially disappointing as it came against a club that entered round seven without a top-flight triumph in the opening seven gameweeks of the term, but Cesar Peixoto's men could not exploit Estrela Amadora's winless sequence.
Although Os verdes e brancos responded commendably to falling 2-0 behind after 20 minutes, Ruben Ramos Ismael's 82nd-minute strike could only halve the deficit in the eventual 2-1 loss.
Back on home turf, Moreirense aim to notch their third triumph this term to snap the ongoing streak without maximum points against an in-form opponent.
Supporters have some reason to be optimistic, given their side's unbeaten start in Minho this term which included a creditable 1-1 draw against Benfica in August.
Despite facing a team that have notched five points from an available nine as hosts, Santa Clara will be aware that recent outcomes in this fixture have favoured them, underscored by two victories and two draws in all competitions since last losing to Moreirense in December 2020.
The positive head-to-head allied with their strong start to 2024-25 make them favourites to extend that undefeated streak to five.
Only two clubs have defeated Vasco Matos' promoted side after seven matches, with both losses coming against possible Liga contenders Porto (2-0) and Benfica (4-1), results that should not dim Os Acorianos' confidence.
Two 1-0 victories against Estrela and Boavista suggest Matos' men have put that heavy defeat in Lisbon behind them to rank a point off third, three off second-placed Porto and seven behind unblemished defending champions Sporting Lisbon.
With the sustainability of their ongoing run uncertain, picking up as many points in the league's infancy could be the difference between survival and relegation for the Ponta Delgada outfit.
Team News
Lawrence Ofori is tipped to return to the squad after his muscle injury, although Hernani Infande (ankle) and Guilherme Liberato (knee) are anticipated to miss out.
With Luis Asue notching three goals and Madson de Souza Silva netting twice, both forwards hope to add to their respective tallies for the off-form hosts.
Matos has a near-healthy squad for Santa Clara's visit to Gil Vicente, with Pedro Pacheco the away side's only reported absentee in gameweek eight.
Vinicius Lopes has been the promoted side's match-winner in consecutive games, and the forward aims to add to his four Liga goals this weekend as the Azoreans chase a fifth victory in eight.
Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Fabiano, Maracas, Marcelo, Frimpong; Ismael, Alan, Tavares; Gabrielzinho, Asue, Madson
Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Batista; Lima, Rocha, Venancio; Pereira, Ferreira, Firmino, Matheus; Lopes, Safira, Silva
We say: Moreirense 0-1 Santa Clara
Despite Moreirense's commendable home results, we are backing Santa Clara to end that streak and secure a fifth Liga victory to extend their undefeated run in all competitions against the home team to five without losing.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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