Seeking to pick up consecutive league victories, Arouca go head to head with Vizela at the Estadio do FC Vizela in round 12 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday.
The Vizelenses, on the other hand, completed the league double over the visiting side last season and will head into the weekend looking to continue in the same vein.
Match preview
Vizela failed to return to winning ways in the Primeira Liga as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Boavista when the sides squared off at the Estadio do Bessa last Sunday.
In a game where Raphael Guzzo received his marching orders, Matheus Pereira and Kevin Zhou scored to cancel out Masaki Watai's fourth-minute opener and hand the visitors a first-half lead before Yusupha Njie restored parity from the penalty spot in the 78th minute.
Prior to that, Vizela saw their three-match winning streak in all competitions come to an end on October 23 when they fell to a 1-0 home loss against Santa Clara courtesy of Bruno Almeida's 87th-minute winner.
Alvaro Pacheco's men have now picked up three wins, three draws and lost five of their 11 league matches this season to collect 12 points and sit 12th in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with 13th-placed Rio Ave.
While the Vizelenses will be looking to find their feet, they now return home where they have struggled to get going this season, claiming one win and four points from their five league matches this season.
Elsewhere, Arouca moved into the top half of the Primeira Liga standings last time out when they picked up an impressive 1-0 victory over league powerhouse Sporting Lisbon on home turf.
Despite being under the cosh for most of the game and seeing less than 40% of the ball possession, Brazilian defender Joao Basso came up clutch at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca as he struck the winner in the 47th minute to stun Ruben Amorim's side.
Armando Evangelista's side are now unbeaten in each of their last six matches across all competitions, claiming three draws and three wins, including a 2-0 victory over Liga 3 side GD Fontinhas in round three of the Taca de Portugal on October 15.
Arouca, who finished 15th in the league last season — just two points above the relegation playoff spot — are currently ninth in the Primeira Liga table and could potentially rise level on 19 points with sixth-placed Sporting Lisbon with all three points this weekend.
However, the Aroquenses head into Saturday on a run of just one league win in their last 10 away games, losing five and claiming four draws since a 3-1 victory at Vitoria de Guimaraes on February 19.
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Team News
Vizela will have to cope with the absence of Guzzo, who will serve a one-match suspension after receiving his marching orders against Boavista last time out.
In his absence, 23-year-old midfielder Tomas Silva should come into the XI, teaming up with Alex Mendez and Samu at the centre of the park.
On the injury front, Pacheco will be unable to call upon Claudemir, who is set to sit out his fifth consecutive game after coming off injured against Portimonense on October 1.
With his assist against Sporting Lisbon last time out, David Simao has now set up three goals in his last three matches and we expect the 32-year-old to retain his role in midfield.
The Arouquenses turned in a fine defensive performance against Amorim's side and we expect to see an unchanged back four of Tiago Esgaio, Basso, Jerome Opoku and Mateus Quaresma shielding Ignacio de Arruabarrena in goal.
Vizela possible starting lineup:
Buntic; Isaac, Wilson, Anderson, Pereira; Samu, Mendez, Silva; Bondoso, Zohi, Osmajic
Arouca possible starting lineup:
Arruabarrena; Esgaio, Basso, Opoku, Quaresma; Soro, Ruiz, Simao; Antony, Dabbagh, Bukia
We say: Vizela 2-1 Arouca
Arouca have put together a string of fine results in recent weeks and will fancy their chances of ending their winless run in this fixture. Vizela, meanwhile, have managed just one home win in eight matches since April and we are backing the Arouquenses to come away with a slender victory on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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