Vizela and Chaves get us underway in round 20 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga when they go head to head at the Estadio do FC Vizela on Friday.
The Flavienses head into the weekend fresh off the back of picking up their first win since the turn of the year and will be looking to build on that result.
Match preview
© Reuters
Vizela continue to struggle for results away from home as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Porto when the sides squared off last Sunday.
In a one-sided affair at the Estadio do Dragao, Brazilian forward Pepe netted on the stroke of half time to hand the hosts a first-half lead before Mehdi Taremi struck his 11th league goal of the season to put the result beyond doubt.
Manuel Tulipa's side have now lost each of their last four away games across all competitions, while managing just one win in eight outings since picking up successive away wins at the start of October.
This poor run has seen the Vizelenses drop to 10th place in the Primeira Liga table, where they currently sit with 24 points from 19 matches, one point and two places behind Friday's visitors.
However, Vizela now return to home soil, where they have put together a fine run of form, claiming three consecutive victories since the start of December, while scoring nine goals and conceding once in that time.
© Reuters
Elsewhere, Chaves held firm to record their first win since the second week in November as they picked up a 2-1 victory over Maritimo at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira last Sunday.
After going two goals up courtesy of early strikes from Euller and former Porto man Steven Vitoria, Claudio Winck pulled one back for the visitors with a 27th-minute penalty, but the hosts turned in a solid defensive performance to see out the victory.
Prior to that, Chaves were on a run of eight consecutive matches without a win — claiming four draws and losing four — a run which saw them crash out of the Taca da Liga in the group stages, where they picked up just one point from a possible nine in Group A.
For all their recent struggles, the Flavienses, who only returned to the top flight last May, will be satisfied with their league position and manager Vitor Campelos will hope that Sunday's victory can serve as a springboard for a fine run of form.
While Chaves will be looking to record consecutive league wins for the first time since October, standing in their way is a Vizela side who they have failed to beat in their previous four attempts, with the spoils being shared in each encounter.
Team News
© Reuters
Despite his side's tootles attacking display against Porto, we expect Tulipa to name an unchanged XI on Friday, meaning that we could see an attacking trio of Nuno Moreira, Koko Bondoso and Cadiz loanee Milutin Osmajic.
Former Boavista man Samu, who has six goal involvements in his last six matches, should team up with Raphael Guzzo and Claudemir in midfield, while we expect an unchanged centre-back pairing of Ivanildo Fernandes and Bruno Wilson.
Meanwhile, Chaves will be without several key players down the spine of the team as the likes of goalkeeper Rodrigo Nascimento, defender Joao Correia and Senegalese midfielder Sidy Sarr are all recuperating from injuries.
Former Atletico Madrid man Hector Hernandez has been ruled out since December through a knee problem and is joined on the club's injury table by fellow forward Luther Singh.
Nigerian midfielder Nwankwo Obioro is a major doubt after sitting out the game over Maritimo through a slight injury, meaning that 27-year-old Guima should retain his starting role at the centre of the park.
Vizela possible starting lineup:Buntic; Juliao, Fernandes, Wilson, Afonso; Claudemir, Guzzo; Samu; Bondoso, Moreira, Osmajic
Chaves possible starting lineup:
Fagundes; Sylla, Vitoria, Ponck, Langa; Teixeira, Guima, Mendes; Euller, Juninho, Abass
We say: Vizela 1-1 Chaves
While Vizela have struggled for results on the road, they have been impressive on home turf in recent weeks and will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways this weekend.
However, Chaves head into Friday with renewed confidence as they look to pick up where they dropped off last Sunday. We predict an end-to-end contest at the Estadio do FC Vizela with both sides settling for a point apiece.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
