Vitoria de Guimaraes will be bidding to make it four straight wins at the start of the 2024-25 campaign when they open their Primeira Liga campaign away to Arouca on Monday night.
The visitors have already played three times in the early rounds of the Conference League this term, but this will represent the first match of Arouca's 2024-25 season.
Match preview
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Arouca finished seventh in the Primeira Liga last term, picking up 46 points from their 34 matches courtesy of a record of 13 wins, seven draws and 14 defeats.
Lobos played three times during pre-season, opening their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Oliveirense, before losing back-to-back games with Rio Ave and Academico Viseu.
Gonzalo Garcia's side have been busy during this summer's transfer window, with their biggest arrival in terms of a transfer fee proving to be Nico Mantl, with the 24-year-old goalkeeper arriving from Red Bull Salzburg.
Arouca have also allowed six players to depart, including Rafa Mujica, with the 25-year-old making the move to Al-Sadd for a fee in the region of €10m (£8.6m).
Lobos have lost their last two league matches to Vitoria, including a 3-1 defeat when the two teams last locked horns on May 18, but Arouca have beaten Monday's opponents twice in their last five meetings.
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Vitoria, meanwhile, have already played three times this season, beating Floriana 5-0 on aggregate in the second qualification round of the 2024-25 Conference League.
The Portuguese outfit are in a strong position to progress to the playoffs, meanwhile, having recorded a 3-0 victory over Zurich in the first leg of their third qualifying round fixture on Thursday night.
Vitoria's second leg with Zurich takes place next week, but their current focus will be on the Primeira Liga, with Rui Borges's side bidding to open their new domestic campaign with a victory.
Os Vimaranenses finished fifth in Portugal's top flight last term, and they were a Europa League outfit as recently as 2019-20, playing in the group stage of that particular campaign alongside Arsenal.
Vitoria have made eight signings this summer, including Mexican forward Jesus Ramirez, while Jota Silva has been their major departure, having moved to English club Nottingham Forest in a €7m (£6m) deal.
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Arouca will be without the services of Yusuf Lawal for this match through injury, while Vladislav Morozov is unlikely to shake off a fitness problem in time to feature.
Head coach Garcia has big decisions to make all over the pitch, but it is likely that new signing Mantl will be given the nod between the sticks on Monday night.
Jason scored seven times last season and will feature in a wide area, while it is expected that on-loan Benfica striker Henrique Araujo will start through the middle following the departure of last season's leading goalscorer Mujica.
As for Vitoria, head coach Borges could name the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Zurich last time out, with new signing Ramirez again featuring in the final third of the field.
Nelson Oliveira came off the bench to register on Thursday evening, but he is likely to again be named among the substitutes alongside Telmo Arcanjo and Nuno Santos.
Ricardo Mangas has already come up with three goals from a defensive area this season, and the 26-year-old will be bidding to continue his excellent start to the campaign this weekend.
However, a late fitness check will need to be made on midfielder Joao Mendes.
Arouca possible starting lineup:
Mantl; Esgaio, Galovic, Rocha, Weverson; Santos, Simao; Jason, Gonzalez, Sylla; Araujo
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Gaspar, Fernandes, Mangas, Borevkovic; Mendes, T Silva, Samu, Handel; Ramirez, Cesar
We say: Arouca 1-2 Vitoria de Guimaraes
This is a tough match to call, with Arouca certainly capable of picking up a positive result. However, Vitoria's early-season from has been excellent, and we are backing the visitors to navigate their way to all three points in their opening league match of the campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
