Vizela will be looking to pick up their first win of the Primeira Liga season when they take on Gil Vicente at Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on Friday evening.

The hosts are 16th in the table, having taken just one point from their opening three games, with the visitors up in ninth place, despite being on a two-game losing run.

Match preview

After finishing 11th in the Primeira Liga last season, Vizela will be hoping they can build on their mid-table finish, but they have not got off to the best of starts, as they are still yet to get their first win on the board.

In fairness, the Vizelense had a very tough start on the opening day, and they put up a good fight against Sporting Lisbon, fighting back to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second half, only to be denied a point by a 98th-minute Paulinho winner for the hosts.

Although it happened in disappointing fashion, a defeat was expected heading into the match against Sporting, but Pablo Villar's side will be frustrated they were unable to take more from their first home game against Arouca, considering the visitors were reduced to 10 men after seven minutes.

Samu gave Vizela the lead after nine minutes, but Arouca managed to turn the game on its head, taking the lead in the 64th minute, and it took a late equaliser from Samuel Essende to ensure the hosts took anything from the game.

Last time out, the Vizelense were soundly beaten away at Guimaraes, with Andre Silva and Joao Mendes scoring second-half goals to seal a 2-0 victory, so Villar's side will be eager to bounce back and get their first win on home soil on Friday night.

Unlike their opponents, Gil Vicente have managed to pick up their first win of the campaign, doing so in impressive fashion by recording a 5-0 victory against Portimonense on the opening day of the season.

Winning by that margin in their first game should have given the Roosters a boost heading into their next two games, but they have failed to build on that victory on the opening day, losing 2-1 away at Guimaraes in their first trip on the road.

Vitor Campelos's side had a very tough test in their most recent match and put up a good fight against reigning champions Benfica, recording seven shots on target, but they ultimately lost 3-2, meaning they are now on a two-game losing run.

As such, Gil Vicente will be eager to bring that run to an end on Friday night, and their recent form at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos suggests they have a good chance of doing so, having won three and drawn two of their last five games at the ground.

Team News

Vizela have no injury concerns heading into the game, but they will still be without Tomas Silva, who received a straight red card on the opening day of the season, meaning Hugo Oliveira is likely to keep his place at right-wing back.

Summer signing Essende has already scored two goals this season, and the Frenchman is set to lead the line again, with Matias Lacava and Nuno Moreira likely to be supporting from the flanks, in a 3-4-3 system.

Gil Vicente still have a few players missing with injury, including long-term absentee Ali Alipour, who has been out since February, while Murilo and Stanislav Kritsyuk are also sidelined.

Attacking midfielder Kanya Fujimoto has started the season very well, having already picked up two goals and two assists, and the 24-year-old is set to start in a number 10 role, just behind Roko Baturina in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Vizela possible starting lineup:
Buntic; Wilson Valdez, Jesus, Escoval; Oliveira, Samu, Bustamante, Pereira; Moreira, Lacava, Essende

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Ventura; Ze Carlos, Pereira, Fernandes, Buta; Tiba, Gbane, Dominguez, Fujimoto, Chabrol; Baturina

We say: Vizela 1-1 Gil Vicente

Both sides have started the season relatively poorly, although they have had difficult games, with Vizela coming up short against Sporting Lisbon and Gil Vicente losing against Benfica.

Given that just three points separated the two teams in the league last season, we expect Friday's game to finish as a draw, with Vizela making it four games without a win in the Primeira Liga.



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