Two sides who could do with all three points square off in round 32 of the Primeira Liga as Boavista play host to Gil Vicente at the Estadio do Bessa on Saturday.
With just three games to go, both sides are currently separated by just two points at the wrong end of the table and will be looking to pick up a huge win in their quest for survival.
Match preview
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Boavista failed to pull clear of the danger zone last weekend as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes when the two sides met at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques.
In a game where defender Chidozie Awaziem received his marching orders, Tomas Handel's 11th-minute strike was enough to separate the two sides and hand Alvaro Pacheco's men their 18th win of the season.
Boavista have now gone six consecutive games without a win — picking up just two points from a possible 18 — a run which has seen their nine-year stint in the top flight come under threat.
Os Axadrezados' last victory came on March 9, when they narrowly edged out Moreirense 1-0 at the Estadio do Bessa courtesy of an 82nd-minute effort from 25-year-old midfielder Miguel Reisinho.
With 30 points from 31 matches, Jorge Simao's side are currently 14th in the Primeira Liga standings, just two points above 16th-placed Portimonense in the relegation playoff spot with just three games to go.
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Gil Vicente, on the other hand, picked up a potentially-vital point in their season as they scored twice in stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw with Arouca at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos last Friday.
A second-half double from Cristo Gonzalez put the Arouquenses on their way to what could have been their 14th league victory of the season, but Tidjany Toure and Jonathan Buatu-Mananga scored in a frenetic 60-second spell to force a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, Gil Vicente snapped their four-game losing streak on April 22, when they picked up a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Moreirense at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas thanks to Mory Gbane's first-half effort.
A run of four points from their last two matches has strengthened the Gilistas' hopes of beating the drop as they look to preserve their top-flight status after what has been a forgettable campaign.
Antonio Gouveia's men have won eight of their 31 matches so far while losing 15 and claiming eight draws to collect 32 points and sit 13th in the league table but could move level with ninth-placed Casa Pia with all three points on Saturday.
Gil Vicente will fancy themselves to get the desired result this weekend as they go up against a Boavista side who have failed to win four of their last five encounters, losing three and picking up one draw since August 2021.
Team News
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Boavista will take to the pitch without Nigerian defender Awaziam, who is currently suspended after picking up a card against Vitoria de Guimaraes last weekend.
On the injury front, Simao will be unable to name 24-year-old forward Robert Bozenik, who is set to sit out his second consecutive game after suffering a hamstring injury against Estrela on April 20.
He is joined on Os Axadrezados' injury table by goalkeeper Morales Pires while 20-year-old Augusto Dabo also continues his long lengthy spell on the sidelines, having suffered a severe injury in July 2023.
Meanwhile, Leonardo Buta is a major doubt for Gil Vicente after the Udinese loanee was forced off injured midway through the game against Arouca last time out.
In his absence, Brazilian defender Lipe will push for a place in the starting XI, forming the back four with Alex Pinto, Gabriel Pereira and 30-year-old Jonathan Buatu Mananga.
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Goncalves; Sasso, Abascal, Onyemaechi; Malheiro, Perez, Makouta, Vukotic; Agra, Lourenco, Tavares
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew, Pinto, Pereira, Mananga, Buta; Gbane, Dominguez; Souza, Fujimoto, Correia; Alipour
We say: Boavista 2-2 Gil Vicente
With just two points separating the two sides in the relegation conversation, we anticipate an end-to-end affair at the Estadio do Bessa as they both go all out in search of maximum points. However, we predict that they will cancel out each other's efforts and settle for a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
