Moreirense are in action at home for the first time in over a month when they kick off round 11 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga with a clash against Gil Vicente on Friday.
The Gilistas have failed to win any of their last seven league games on the road since April and will journey to the Estadio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas seeking to end this dry spell.
Match preview
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Moreirense were denied a third win on the spin in the new Primeira Liga campaign as they fell to a 1-0 loss against Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques last Sunday.
With nothing to separate the two sides at half time, Guimaraes were rewarded for their sustained period of pressure in the second half as veteran forward Nelson Oliveira struck four minutes after the hour mark to inspire them to all three points.
With last weekend's result, Moreirense have now lost consecutive games for the first time this season, having suffered a 2-0 defeat against Porto at the Estadio do Dragao in the Taca da Liga opening round on October 31.
After a run of four back-to-back games on their travels, Cesar Peixoto's men now return home, where they are unbeaten in six straight matches, claiming four wins and two draws since losing 1-0 against Gil Vicente on April 20.
Moreirense have picked up four wins and two draws from their 10 games to start the Primeira Liga campaign, claiming 14 points from a possible 30 to sit eighth in the table, two points behind seventh-placed Famalicao.
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Like this weekend's hosts, Gil Vicente suffered successive defeats for the first time this season last weekend when they were beaten 2-1 by Boavista at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos.
Ilija Vukotic and Joel Silva scored quick-fire goals at the start of the second half to put Boavista two goals up before Brazilian striker Caue pulled one back for the home side in the 77th minute.
Before that, Gil Vicente booked their spot in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal courtesy of a 2-0 over Belenenses on October 19, one week before losing 2-1 in their league clash against Santa Clara at the Estadio de Sao Miguel.
Bruno Pinheiro's men lost three of their last four league games — with a 3-0 home victory over Estrela Amadora on October 5 being the exception — having gone unbeaten in their five outings preceding this run.
The Gilistas have managed just two wins from their 10 Primeira Liga matches this season while losing four and claiming four draws to collect 10 points and sit 10th in the standings, two points off ninth-placed Casa Pia on the top half of the table.
Next up for Gil Vicente is the challenge of taking on an opposing side who are unbeaten in 15 of the last 20 meetings between the teams, claiming six wins and nine draws since August 2010.
Moreirense and Gil Vicente will follow Friday's clash with Taca de Portugal action, with Peixoto's men facing Porto in the fourth round on November 22 while the Gilistas visit the Campo Do Calvario to take on Campeonato de Portugal outfit Vila Real.
Team News
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Moreirense remain without the services of Portuguese forward Hernani Infande, who has been out of action since sustaining a severe ankle injury in March's game against Arouca.
Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Liberato has missed the last seven matches through a torn knee ligament while defender Alhassane Sylla continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
As for Gil Vicente, Pinheiro will be unable to call upon the services of 23-year-old midfielder Facundo Caseres, who has been out of action since sustaining a meniscus injury back in April.
South Africa international Sphephelo Sithole picked up an injury while on international duty against South Sudan in September and the 25-year-old is set to sit out his eighth consecutive game.
Mory Gbane's first-half strike gave the Gilistas all three points in the most clash with Moreirense back in April and the 23-year-old, who has started seven of the 10 league games so far, will look to open his account for the season this weekend.
Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Pinto, Marcelo, Ponck, Frimpong; Ismael, Ofori; Benny, Alanzinho, Madson; Schettine
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Mutombo, Mananga, Fernandes, Kazu; Garcia, Gbane, Fujimoto, Mboula; Aguirre, Correia
We say: Moreirense 2-0 Gil Vicente
Having lost their last two outings, both Moreirense and Gil Vicente will head into Friday's game looking to stop the rot and we anticipate an end-to-end affair at the Estadio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.
Peixoto's men have been rock-solid at home in recent weeks and we are backing them to come away with all three points against a Gil Vicente side who have struggled to impose themselves on the road.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
