Saturday's Primeira Liga action will get underway at the Parque Desportivo Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas where Moreirense play host to Gil Vicente.
The hosts are currently on 43 points after 29 league games in the season, while the visitors are on 28 points over the same period and just two places above the relegation playoff spot.
Match preview
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Moreirense have had an impressive season following their promotion back into the top flight, with Rui Borges demonstrating he is a coach who is well capable of holding his own in this company.
However, despite their solid performance to this point, Os Verdes e Brancos have experienced a slight downturn since the start of March, managing just a single win in their last six games, along with two draws and three losses.
The most recent of those defeats came last weekend when they were beaten 3-0 by Benfica, although there were plenty of positives Borges would have taken from that result, and if Alanzinho's shot in the 34th minute had found the net for the equaliser instead of rebounding off the post, the course of the match could have been vastly different.
It cannot be ignored that Moreirense's attacking prowess has diminished since star striker Andre Luis was sold during the January transfer window, as finding the back of the net regularly has proven a challenge for the Men from Moreira de Conegos lately.
Nevertheless, at home, the hosts have been solid this season, securing 22 points from 14 games and unbeaten in their last three. They have also kept clean sheets in four of their last six matches with their only defeat in that time coming against league leaders Sporting Lisbon in mid-February.
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Meanwhile, Gil Vicente enter this match in an uncomfortable position, currently down in 14th place and just a single point above Portimonense, who occupy the sole relegation playoff spot heading into the final stretch of the season.
The Gilistas have only won a single league match since the start of February, and after a run of three draws and three losses in succession, the club axed Vitor Campelos as manager at the start of this month.
With Carlos Cunha standing in as interim manager last week, Galos were no match for the formidable Sporting, who had put the game to bed early, heading into the half-time break with a four-goal lead before seeing out the second half with ease.
With five games to go in the season, Toze Marreco will now take charge of Gil Vicente and will be hoping to mark his debut with a victory, though that will require the new boss to find a way of bringing an end to a three-match winless streak with a side that currently possesses the league's worst away record of just seven points earned in 14 matches on the road this season.
Team News
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Moreirense will be without the services of Hernani Infande, who is struggling with a muscle injury and is expected to remain sidelined until the end of the month.
Long-term absentees Alhassane Sylla and Fabiano are likely to miss the remainder of the season, while Vinicius Mingotti is flagged as a minor doubt after being withdrawn before the hour-mark against Benfica last week.
Goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk has not featured at all this season for Gil Vicente and is likely done for the rest of the campaign as he continues his rehabilitation from injury.
Ze Carlos and Kiko Vilas Boas have started the last two matches at full-back following their respective injuries and should keep their places here, alongside Ruben Fernandes and Gabriel Pereira in the central defensive partnership.
Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Fabiano, Ponck, Maracas, Frimpong; Ofori, Franco, Kodisang, Alanzinho, Camacho; Alessandro
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Carlos, Pereira, Fernandes, Boas; Gbane, Tiba; De Souza, Neto, Dominguez; Aurelio
We say: Moreirense 1-0 Gil Vicente
Moreirense have been the better side across the course of the season, and the majority of their good work has been done on their home patch, where they are unbeaten in their last three matches. The visitors, on the other hand, have the league's worst away record this term, and we feel they will come away from this trip to Moreira de Conegos empty-handed.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
