Pacos de Ferreira will set out to pick up their first win of the 2022-23 Primeira Liga campaign when they play host to Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio da Mata Real on Saturday.
Joao Teixeira's men, who are winless in their last three away games, completed the league double over the home side last season and will be looking to continue in the same vein.
Match preview
© Reuters
Pacos de Ferreira were denied their first win of the season as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Arouca when the sides squared off last Sunday.
Former Atletico Madrid midfielder Nicolas Gaitan set the Pacenses on their way to a vital victory with a 61st-minute strike, but 23-year-old Oday Dabbagh netted 23 minutes later to force a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, Cesar Peixoto's men picked up their first point of the season on September 17, when they played out a 1-1 draw away to Santa Clara to end their run of six consecutive league defeats.
They have now failed to taste victory in any of their last 10 games across all competitions, picking up two draws and losing eight, while scoring seven goals and shipping 19 since July's 1-0 win over Santa Clara.
With two points from a possible 24, Pacos de Ferreira are currently bottom but one in the Primeira Liga standings, only above last-placed Maritimo, who have lost each of their eight games so far.
© Reuters
Elsewhere, Vitoria de Guimaraes were involved in a share of the spoils for the second consecutive game last time out when they played out a goalless draw with Benfica on home turf.
Despite being under the cosh for most of the game and seeing 35% of the ball possession, the hosts did just enough to frustrate As Aguias and deny them an eighth consecutive league victory.
Vitoria de Guimaraes are now winless in five of their last six outings, claiming two draws and losing three — with a 1-0 victory over Santa Clara on September 9 being the exception.
Teixeira's side, who secured an impressive sixth-placed finish last term, are currently ninth in the league standings after picking up 11 points from their opening eight games.
Next up for Os Vimaranenses is an opposing side against whom they are unbeaten in 15 of the last 20 meetings between the teams, claiming nine wins and six draws since November 2008.
Team News
© Reuters
Pacos de Ferreira will have to cope without the Portuguese trio of Jorge Silva, Tiago Ilori and Pedro Ganchas, who are all recuperating from injuries.
They are joined in the club's injury table by Brazilian goalkeeper Jordi, who has been out of action since coming off injured against Portimonense on August 15.
Veteran midfielder Luiz Carlos has missed the last two outings after sustaining an injury versus Casa Pia back in September and the 37-year-old is a doubt for this weekend's matchup.
Meanwhile, Vitoria de Guimaraes will be without several key players down the spine of the team as the likes of defender Miguel Maga and the midfield duo of Thomas Handel and Andre Silva continue their spells on the sidelines.
Angolan defender Bruno Gasper is set to sit out his sixth consecutive game after picking up an injury against Portimonense on August 21, while Jorge Fernandes is currently recuperating from a muscle problem.
Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Vekic; Delgado, Ferigra, Ramos, Antunes; Pires, Ibrahim; Djalo, Gaitan, Thomas; Butzke
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Amaro, Villanueva, Bamba; Carlos, Andre, Silva, Freitas; Silva, Silva, Luz
We say: Pacos de Ferreira 2-1 Vitoria de Guimaraes
Pacos de Ferreira will head into the weekend with renewed belief following their resilient performance against first-placed Benfica. We predict that the Pacenses will take the positives from last week's performance and claim a slender victory over Vitoria de Guimaraes, who have failed to win any of their last three away games.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
