Pacos de Ferreira will be looking to take their Primeira Liga survival quest down to the wire as they play host to Rio Ave at the Estadio Capital do Movel on Sunday.
While the visitors are currently in a heated race for a top-half finish, the Pacenses currently sit three points off the relegation playoff spot with time running out and their hopes of survival fading out.
Match preview
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Pacos de Ferreira's hopes of preserving their Primeira Liga status suffered a major blow last Saturday when they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Chaves.
Following a goalless first half at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira, the game sparked to life in the second half as Nwankwo Obiora and Joao Teixeira found the target to hand the hosts a comfortable win.
Prior to that, Pacos de Ferreira snapped their five-game winless run on April 29 when they beat Vizela 1-0 at the Estadio do FC Vizela, but were sent crashing back to earth eight days later courtesy of a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Sporting Lisbon.
Cesar Peixoto's men have now lost 22 of their 32 matches, while picking up five wins and five draws to collect 20 points and sit 17th in the Primeira Liga table, three points off 16th-placed Maritimo, with just two games to go.
Having secured an 11th-placed finish last season, the Pacenses' underwhelming campaign has been owing to their struggles in attack, they have scored the fewest number of goals this season (23) and have failed to find the target in three of their last four games.
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Rio Ave, on the other hand, failed to move into the top half of the table as they fell to a 1-0 loss against Vitoria de Guimaraes last Sunday.
In an action-packed contest at the Estadio dos Arcos, the hosts were made to rue their missed chances as Tomas Handel scored the only goal of the game to hand Os Vimaranenses all three points.
Luis Freire's men have now failed to win six of their last seven outings, a run which has seen them drop to 12th place in the table, but victory this weekend could push them as high as ninth place.
Regardless of their poor late-season form, Rio Ave are likely to be pleased with their first season back in the Primeira Liga, having only secured promotion from the Segunda Liga last season.
Next up for the Vilacondenses is a Pacos de Ferreira side who they have failed to defeat in their last six league meetings, losing three and claiming three draws since a 4-2 victory in January 2018.
Team News
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Paulo Bernardo will play no part in Sunday's game as he is serving a one-match ban following his first-half red card against Chaves last Saturday.
In his absence, veteran midfielder Luiz Carlos should come into the fold, teaming up with Rui Pires and former Reading man Jordan Holsgrove in the centre of the park.
On the injury front, Matchoi Djalo has missed each of the last five matches through a muscle problem and remains out of contention for Pacos de Ferreira.
As for Rio Ave, Portuguese midfielder Joca has been out of action since last September through a knee injury and will play no part in this weekend's clash.
He is joined on the Vilacondenses injury table by Bruno Ventura, who picked up a muscle problem following the game against Benfica on April 2.
Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Marafona; Silva, Lima, Maracas, Antunes; Pires, Carlos, Holsgrove; Gaitan, Thomas, Butzke
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Magrao; Pantalon, Santos, William; Costinha, Oudrhiri, Guga, Vitor; Boateng, Ruiz, Baeza
We say: Pacos de Ferreira 1-0 Rio Ave
Looking at past results between the sides, we anticipate a cagey affair at the Estadio Capital do Movel. Rio Ave have struggled for results away from home, where they have managed just two wins in the league this season, and we predict that Pacos de Ferreira will come away with a slender victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
