Nacional will be looking to pick up back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they play host to AVS in round 18 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Sunday.
Having failed to win the previous three meetings between the two sides, the Vila das Aves outfit will journey to the Estadio da Madeira aiming to get one over the home side and pull three points clear of the danger zone.
Match preview
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Nacional maintained their fine run of home results as they left Primeira Liga title-chasers Porto stunned in a 2-0 victory when the two sides squared off at the Estadio da Madeira last Sunday.
Dudu and Ze Vitor found the back of the net against the run of play to put the hosts in a two-goal lead heading into half time, and while Porto upped the ante in search of a way back into the game after the break, they were met by a resilient Nacional defence, who held their own to end their 12-game winless run in the fixture.
Tiago Margarido's men have now gone unbeaten in four of their most recent five home games — picking up three wins and one draw — with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Benfica on December 19 being the exception.
While Nacional are one of just three sides yet to taste victory away from home in the Primeira Liga this season, their recent turnaround at the Estadio da Madeira has seen them surge from the doldrum as they now sit 13th in the league table and could move level on 19 points with 11th-played Gil Vicente with a win this weekend.
As for AVS, they continue to struggle for results at the wrong end of the league standings as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw against Moreirense at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas on January 4.
In an action-packed contest, Alan opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the ninth minute to put Moreirense in front but Jaume Grau netted on the stroke of half time to draw the visitors level and force a share of the spoils.
AVS have now played out five back-to-back stalemates since December 8 and are without a win in each of their last 11 matches across all competitions, claiming six draws and losing five, including a 3-2 defeat against Campeonato de Portugal side Lusitano Evora in the Taca de Portugal fourth round on November 23.
Having gained promotion to the top flight for the first time ever last term, Daniel Ramos's men find themselves fighting to stay afloat as they sit 15th in the league table with 15 points from 17 matches, only above 16th-placed Arouca in the relegation playoff spot on goal difference.
Next up for AVS is the challenge of an opposing side whom they failed to get the better of in each of the previous three encounters between the two teams, losing twice and claiming one draw since November 2023.
Team News
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Off the back of an impressive team display against Porto, we expect Margarido to name a similar Nacional XI this weekend, with Gustavo Garcia, Ze Vitor, Ulisses and Jose Gomes forming the back four once again.
Matheus Dias, Bruno Costa and Braga loanee Hadji should team up at the centre of the park once again while we expect an unchanged front three of Dudu, skipper Luis Esteves and 20-year-striker Isaac.
On the injury front, this weekend's hosts will be unable to name the midfield duo of Miguel Baeza and 20-year-old Lucas Oliveira, who have been ruled out through muscle injury.
Nigel Thomas has missed each of the last three matches since suffering a knee injury against Benfica on December 19 and the 23-year-old forward is also out of contention for this weekend's clash.
Meanwhile, AVS remain without the services of 30-year-old midfielder Giorgi Aburjania, who is set to sit out his 10th consecutive match since coming off with a thigh injury in November's game against Famalicao.
He is joined on the club's injury table by 20-year-old goalkeeper Lucas Moura, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a severe shoulder problem back in March 2024.
Nacional possible starting lineup:
Franca; Garcia, Ze Vitor, Ulisses, Gomes; Dias, Hadji, Costa; Esteves, Isaac, Dudu
AVS possible starting lineup:
Bertelli; Teixeira, Roux, Rodriguez; Fonseca, Grau, Assuncao, Kiki; Lopes, Ribeiro, Piazon
We say: Nacional 1-0 AVS
Buoyed by their victory over Porto, Nacional will head into the weekend in sky-high spirits as they look to put together a fine run of form and push into the top half of the table.
AVS have proven tough to crack or late, holding out for a share of the spoils in their last five games, but we fancy Margarido's men to come away with all three points in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
