Round 12 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga gets underway at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos where Gil Vicente and Portimonense go head to head on Friday.
This game has all the makings of a thrilling contest as both sides, who are currently on a rough patch in the league, will head into the weekend looking to arrest their slump in form.
Match preview
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Having secured an impressive fifth-placed finish in the Primeira Liga last season and sealing a spot in Europe, Gil Vicente rode into the 2022-23 campaign with much promise.
However, 11 games into the campaign, the Gilistas find themselves level on points with 16th-placed Santa Clara in the relegation playoff zone and seven points off the top half of the standings.
A major concern for manager Ivo Vieira has been his side's lack of sting at the attacking end of the pitch as Gil Vicente have netted just nine goals this season — the league's joint-fourth lowest tally.
They have also struggled to make use of their home advantage this season as they are winless in the most recent six of their eight home matches across all competitions, picking up two draws and losing four, including last Sunday's 1-0 loss at the hands of Braga.
Gil Vicente head into Friday's game on a run of four consecutive league defeats, scoring twice and shipping eight goals since September's 2-2 draw with Rio Ave, while they have managed just one win in their last 10 outings.
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Elsewhere, Portimonense failed to find their feet as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw against 10-man Estoril Praia when the sides squared off at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao last Sunday.
In a game where Daniel Figueira received his marching orders, Erison opened the scoring midway through the first half to hand the visitors the lead before Welinton Junior converted his 88th-minute penalty to force a share of the spoils.
Having kicked off the season with five wins from their opening seven matches, Paulo Sergio's side have now failed to taste victory in each of their last five matches across all competitions, picking up one draw and losing four since the start of October.
This drop-off in form also saw Portimonense' Taca de Portugal campaign come to an end in the third round as they fell to a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of Campeonato de Portugal outfit Vilaverdense when the sides met on October 16.
The Alvinegros have now picked up five wins, one draw and lost five of their 11 league matches this season to collect 16 points and sit eighth in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with Arouca and Estoril Praia.
While Portimonense will be looking to end their dry spell, they take a trip to the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos, where they have failed to taste victory in their three league visits, losing twice and claiming one draw since October 2019.
Team News
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Having sat out the game against Braga due to a suspension for picking up a red card against Chaves on October 23, Adrian Marin is back in contention for Gil Vicente.
The 25-year-old could replace Henrique Gomes on the left side of the back four, teaming up with skipper Ruben Fernandes, Lucas Cunha and right-back Danilo Veiga to shield Stanislav Kritsyuk between the sticks.
On the injury front, the Gilistas remain without summer signing Lucas Barros, who continues to await his debut after picking up an injury while in action for Covilha in the Segunda Liga in May.
As far as Portimonense are concerned, Carlinhos will play no part in Friday's game as he continues his long road to full fitness after picking up a severe injury back in May.
He is joined on the club's injury table by midfielder Pedro Sa, who has been sidelined since sustaining an injury in September's game versus Famalicao.
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Kritsyuk; Veiga, Cunha, Fernandes, Marin; Bueno, Carvalho, Fujimoto; Souza. Navarro, Aouacheria
Portimonense possible starting lineup:
Nakamura; Ouattara, Pedrao. Relvas, Seck; Ewerton, Jocu; Oliveira, Gomes, Junior; Cariello
We say: Gil Vicente 2-2 Portimonense
Gil Vicente and Portimonense head into the weekend in need of a morale-boosting result having struggled for form in recent weeks. The Gilistas have been solid on their home ground against Portimonense, but we are backing Sergio's side to do just enough to leave with a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
