With just three rounds remaining in the Primeira Liga, SC Farense welcome Famalicao to Estadio de Sao Luís this weekend knowing that anything less than a win would end their hopes of avoiding the drop outright.
The hosts are clinging on in the relegation battle and must find a way to close the gap on those above them, while Fama head south determined to keep their faint European hopes alive.
Match preview
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Farense’s situation could not be more desperate, as they sit second from bottom on 21 points, three adrift of the playoff spot and eight behind guaranteed safety with time fast running out.
Their most recent outing saw them fall to a 1-0 defeat at Gil Vicente, making it back-to-back losses without scoring and underlining their long-standing issues in the final third.
Indeed, Farense have won just one of their last 16 matches, drawing blanks in nine of those games and finding goals painfully hard to come by.
The Lions of Faro share the division’s least attacking return with just 20 scored, though curiously, they have also allowed only 42 – the joint fewest among sides in the bottom half.
However, their biggest let-down has come at Sao Luís, where they have collected just eight points from 15 matches, failed to win any of their last 10 and gone six straight games without a single goal.
Still, a glimmer of encouragement comes from their 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture, and Toze Marreco‘s men now have the chance to complete a first-ever league double over Famalicao.
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This is a must-win encounter for the visitors, whose hopes of snatching a European place hang by a thread after failing to win their last two games, falling 2-1 at Porto before settling for a 1-1 draw at home to Braga last Friday.
Fama took the lead just eight minutes in when Justin de Haas converted from the spot, only to be undone by a Rodrigo Pinheiro own goal in the 74th minute.
It was the first time Famalicao had gone two league games without winning since late January, and the drop in pace has left them seventh on 44 points – now trailing fifth place by a full seven.
Still, attacking output remains a major plus for Hugo Oliveira‘s men, who have now scored in 10 consecutive matches and boast 40 goals – the second most among sides outside the European places.
Their away form, however, remains inconsistent, with just one win in Fama’s last four on the road, though they will be encouraged by the fact that they are up against the league’s second-worst home side.
Team News
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Following recent uninspiring displays, Farense boss Toze could opt for changes, with Marco Matias, Bermejo and Rui Costa all in contention for a starting berth.
Ricardo Velho remains sidelined through injury, meaning Kaique Pereira is expected to continue between the sticks.
Elves Balde is ruled out due to fitness issues, while Marco Moreno is a doubt and will be assessed late on, though his recovery would bolster options in central defence.
As for Famalicao, Leo Realpe started at the heart of defence last time out, but Enea Mihaj is expected to reclaim his place, likely relegating the Ecuadorian to the bench.
Pedro Bondo is pushing for a start on the left side of the back four, having impressed off the bench in consecutive appearances.
Oscar Aranda returns from suspension and is expected to slot back in out wide, where his creativity remains vital to Famalicao’s attacking patterns.
SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Kaique; Poloni, Ribeiro, Falcao, Pastor; Bermejo, Menino, Neto, Lopes; Tomane, Costa
Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Carevic; Francisco, Mihaj, Haas, Pinheiro; Looi, Topic; Aranda, Sa, Sorriso; Elisor
We say: SC Farense 0-1 Famalicao
Farense have hosted Famalicao four times across the Primeira and Segunda Liga, with three of those meetings ending in stalemates and the other a home win.
That said, while Fama’s recent away displays have been unconvincing, this may still shape up to be a narrowly contested victory for the visitors given the hosts’ struggles at Sao Luís.
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