Two sides in need of a pick-me-up go head to head in the Portuguese Primeira Liga as Pacos de Ferreira lock horns with Vizela at the Estadio Capital do Movel on Sunday.
The Vizelenses saw their Taca de Portugal campaign come to an end last Wednesday and will head into the weekend looking to end their run of four consecutive games without a win across all competitions.
Match preview
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Having ended last season in 11th position — six places off their 2020-21 campaign finish — Pacos de Ferreira have shown signs of a steady decline over the last two seasons.
However, Jose Mota's men now find themselves in the relegation picture as they sit rock-bottom in the Primeira Liga standings after claiming just two points from their opening 12 matches.
Their abysmal start to the season has been owing to their struggles at both ends of the pitch as they hold the league's poorest attacking record with just seven goals scored, while they have conceded the second-most goals so far (24).
This was highlighted once again as Pacos de Ferreira fell to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of league champions Porto when the sides squared off at the Estadio do Dragao last Saturday.
The Pacenses head into the weekend on a run of five consecutive defeats, including a 2-0 loss against Vitoria de Setubal in round three of the Taca de Portugal on October 16, while they are unbeaten in their last 15 matches since July's pre-season victory over Santa Clara.
Pacos de Ferreira will be backing themselves to stop the rot this weekend as they go up against an opposing side against whom they are unbeaten in six of their last seven encounters, claiming four wins and two draws since October 2008.
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Alvaro Pacheco's side, on the other hand, were dumped out of the Taca de Portugal in the fourth round as they suffered a 2-1 extra-time loss against Vitoria de Guimaraes last Wednesday.
In a cagey affair at Dom Afonso Henriques, Kevin Zohi netted in the 88th minute to cancel out Anderson's 30th-minute own goal and force extra time, where Allison Safira converted his 110th-minute penalty to fire the hosts into the round of 16.
The Vizelenses now turn their attention to the Primeira Liga, where they have managed just one point from the last nine available, losing twice and playing out a 2-2 draw with Boavista on October 30.
Vizela have picked up three wins, three draws and lost six of their 12 league matches this season to collect 12 points and sit 13th in the Primeira Liga standings, three points above Gil Vicente in the relegation playoff spot.
Team News
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Arouca remain without several players down the spine of the team, as the likes of Erick Ferigra, Jordan Holsgrove and Portuguese defender Joao Vigario have all been ruled out through injuries.
Brazilian midfielder Luiz Carlos will also play no part in Sunday's matchup after the 37-year-old came off injured in the game against Casa Pia back in September.
Tiago Ilori was forced off with a 26th-minute injury against Porto last time out and in the absence of the Sporting Lisbon loanee, Pedro Ganchas will push for his third start of the season, teaming up with Flavio Ramos and Nuno Lima in the back three.
Meanwhile, Vizela will be without Anderson and Tomas Silva, who are suspended after both receiving their marching orders against Vitoria de Guimaraes in the midweek cup game.
Carlos Isaac was hauled off injured shortly after the half-hour mark in the aforementioned game and the Spanish defender is a major doubt for the trip to the Estadio Capital do Movel.
Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Almeida; Ganchas, Ramos, Lima; Delgado, Pires, Djalo, Antunes; Gaitan, Koffi, Uilton
Vizela possible starting lineup:
Buntic; Fernandes, Wilson, Pereira, Kiki; Mendez, Samu, Rashid; Bondoso, Schmidt, Zohi
We say: Pacos de Ferreira 1-1 Vizela
We expect a thrilling contest at the Estadio Capital do Movel as Pacos de Ferreira and Vizela head into the weekend in search of a morale-boosting result. While the Vizelenses have enjoyed a better campaign so far, we are backing Mota's men to do just enough to leave with a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
