The opening match of matchday 29 in the Primeira Liga sees struggling Gil Vicente welcome in-form Vitoria de Guimaraes to Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on Friday evening.
The hosts approach this contest on the back of a defeat to Moreirense and have claimed just one win from their last 10 matches in the top flight, while the visitors arrive riding a nine-game unbeaten run.
Match preview
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After finally snapping their nine-game winless spell with a much-needed victory away to bottom-placed Boavista, Gil Vicente would have stepped into their previous outing with renewed belief, but the Roosters failed to ride that momentum as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat on home turf.
A cagey opening period saw little in the way of attacking threat, and it was Moreirense who drew first blood two minutes after the restart through Godfried Frimpong, with the hosts unable to respond despite a spirited late push.
That result only deepened Gil Vicente’s woes in front of their fans, marking a fifth consecutive league defeat in Barcelos and a sixth across all competitions, with Galos drawing a blank in each of the last five.
Cesar Peixoto‘s side now sit 14th in the standings on 26 points, with six wins, eight draws and 14 defeats, and remain just three points above the relegation playoff position heading into the final stretch.
With only six matches left to fight for survival, the margin for error continues to narrow, though the hosts may seek solace in the fact that they have come out on top in the last three home meetings against Friday’s opponents.
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That record could prove invaluable conidering Vitoria are currently firing on all cylinders, having won four of their last five league games during their ongoing nine-game unbeaten run.
The Conquerors made light work of Santa Clara last weekend, finding the breakthrough early through Joao Sabino Mendes before sealing the victory late on with a Gustavo Silva effort in the 89th minute.
That 2-0 win keeps Vitoria in sixth place on 45 points and has brought them within touching distance of fifth-placed Santa, cutting the gap to just one point, while Luis Freire‘s men have also rekindled belief in a late push for the top four as the deficit to that target now stands at 11.
The Little Whites’s impressive run has been built on a solid defence, having kept six clean sheets across their last nine matches in the top flight and conceding only four times in that period.
However, their away form tells a different story, with just one shutout in their last 11 league trips and only one victory to show for it, an issue Freire must urgently address if his team are to remain in the hunt for a European spot.
Victory in Barcelos would see Vitoria complete a top-flight double over Gil Vicente for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign, having romped to a 4-0 win in the reverse fixture.
Team News
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Tidjany Toure is back in contention after serving a suspension and could offer an extra option in attack, although he is likely to begin on the bench.
Peixoto appeared dissatisfied with his side’s attacking display last time out and made wholesale changes up front around the 57th minute, meaning the likes of Felix Correia and Jorge Aguirre could be handed starting berths.
Meanwhile, South Africa international Sphephelo Sithole remains out of contention as he continues his recovery from a ligament injury suffered while representing his country against South Sudan in September.
On the visitors’ end, Mikel Villanueva is the only fitness concern, though he is expected to recover in time to start, and if he falls short, Filipe Relvas will take his place.
Silva’s goal-scoring cameo last weekend may earn him a spot in the starting XI, potentially replacing Nuno Santos out wide or Nelson Oliveira should Freire opt for a more fluid approach up front.
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Cruz, Mawesi, Fernandes, Carlos; Fujimoto, Teixeira; Barmejo, Aguirre, Correia
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Maga, Villanueva, Boreckovic, J. T. Mendes; Samu, J. Mendes, Handel; Arcanjo, Oliveira, Silva
We say: Gil Vicente 0-1 Vitoria de Guimaraes
While Vitoria have struggled defensively on their travels, they have shown enough quality going forward, finding the net in each of their last three away league outings and scoring five times in that run – a factor that could tilt the balance in their favour against a Gil Vicente side that have looked blunt in front of goal on home turf.
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