Two sides separated by three points and two places in the mid-table go head to head in round 21 of the Primeira Liga as SC Farense play host to Famalicao on Saturday.
The Vila Nova journey to the Estadio de Sao Luis unbeaten in each of their last four games against the home side since January 2019 and will look to extend this impressive run.
Match preview
© Reuters
Farense were denied successive away victories for the first time since May as they were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Chaves at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira last Sunday.
Despite playing with an extra man for most of the game after Ygor Nogueira picked up a 16th-minute red card, Farense could not capitalise as Hector Hernandez converted his 53rd-minute penalty to cancel out Bruno Duarte's first-half opener.
After failing to win their final four games in 2023 — picking up two points from a possible 12 — Jose Mota's men have also struggled for consistency in the new year, claiming two wins and losing two of their first five matches.
Despite their recent struggles, the Leoes de Faro faithful will feel satisfied with the club's performance in the big leagues as they are on course for a top-half finish, having secured promotion from the Segunda Liga last season.
Farense have picked up 25 points from their 20 Primeira Liga matches so far to sit eighth in the league table, level on points with seventh-placed Arouca and seven points above the danger zone.
© Reuters
Elsewhere, Famalicao were left with their head between their hands last time out when they fell to a narrow 1-0 loss against Moreirense at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.
The visitors were guilty of a lack of cutting edge in attack as 29-year-old defender Maracas rose highest to head home the only goal of the game with just four minutes left to play and hand Os verdes e brancos a narrow victory
Having lost 2-1 against Braga at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao on January 18, Joao Pedro Sousa's men have suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time since losing to Vitoria de Guimaraes and Estrela Amadora back in October.
The Vila Nova have also failed to win eight of their last nine matches across all competitions — losing five and picking up three draws — with a 2-0 victory against 10-man Casa Pia on January 13 being the exception.
This poor run of results has seen them drop to 10th place in the Primeira Liga standings, level on 22 points with ninth-placed Gil Vicente and just four points above Estrela in the relegation playoff spot.
Famalicao will be backing themselves to find their feet this weekend as they take on a Chaves side against whom they are unbeaten in six of their last seven encounters, claiming two wins and four draws since October 2015.
Team News
© Reuters
With his strike against Chaves, Duarte now has four goal involvements in his last three matches and we expect the 27-year-old striker to spearhead Farense's attack once again.
He should be joined in the final third by 24-year-old Elves Balde and skipper Marco Matias, while Facundo Caseres and Brazilian midfielder Claudio Falcao should retain their roles in the centre of the park.
At the defensive end of the pitch, we expect an unchanged back four of Pastor, Goncalo Silva, Zach Muscat and veteran full-back Joao Talocha, with Ricardo Velho starting in goal once again.
Famalicao completed the winter deadline-day signing of Brazilian defender Ian Custodio and the former Palmeiras man could be handed his debut this weekend.
Jhonder Cadiz scored the only goal of the game to hand the Vila Nova a 1-0 victory against Farense in September's reverse fixture and the Venezuelan striker will be looking to deliver the goods once again.
SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Velho; Pastor, Silva, Muscat, Talocha; Caseres, Falcao; Balde, Mattheus, Matias; Duarte
Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Nathan, Mihaj, Riccieli, Moura; Youssouf, Topic; Fonseca, Sa, Chiquinho; Cadiz
We say: SC Farense 1-1 Famalicao
Farense and Famalicao have struggled for results in recent weeks and will head into this one looking to pick up a morale-boosting win. With just three points separating the sides, we anticipate a cagey affair at the Estadio de Sao Luís with both teams settling for a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
