Preview: Boavista vs. Vizela - prediction, team news, lineups

Petit's men head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their last five games against the Vizelenses and will be looking to keep the juggernaut rolling.

Match preview

Boavista failed to find their feet last weekend when they fell to a 3-2 defeat against Vitoria de Guimaraes after bottling their lead in the final three minutes at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques.

Salvador Agra and Vincent Sasso scored to cancel out Tiago Silva's 20th-minute opener and put the visitors in front heading into the final 20 minutes of the game, but Nicolas Janvier and Andre Amaro found the target to hand Os Vimaranenses a late victory.

Prior to that, Petit's side suffered a third-round exit from the Taca de Portugal when they fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Divisao de Honra outfit Machico on October 16 courtesy of Roberto Gouveia's solitary strike.

Os Axadrezados have now failed to win any of their last four matches across all competitions, picking up one draw and losing three since a 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon on September 17.

Boavista have now picked up five wins, one draw and lost four of their 10 league matches to collect 16 points and sit seventh in the Primeira Liga standings, but could potentially rise level on points with fourth-placed Sporting Lisbon with all three points this weekend.

Vizela, on the other hand, were denied a third consecutive league victory last time out when they fell to a slender 1-0 defeat against Santa Clara at the Estadio do FC Vizela.

In a game where Ivanildo Fernandes received an early bath, Portuguese midfielder Bruno Almeida came up clutch for the visitors as he scored the only goal of the game with three minutes left on the clock.

Prior to that, Vizela progressed to the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal on October 15 when they saw off Segunda Liga outfit Penafiel 2-1 on penalties after a nail-biting 3-3 draw in extra time.

With 11 points from their 10 matches so far, Alvaro Pacheco's side are currently 13th in the Primeira Liga table, three points above 16th-placed Santa Clara in the relegation playoff spot.

While the Vizelenses will be looking to return to winning ways, their next task pits them against a Boavista side, against whom they are winless in five consecutive meetings between the teams, losing twice and claiming three draws since August 2018.

Boavista Primeira Liga form:

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W

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L

D

L

Vizela Primeira Liga form:

L

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W

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L

Team News

Boavista will be without the services of Portuguese defender Ricardo Mangas, who received his marching orders against Vitoria de Guimaraes last weekend.

In his absence, veteran defender Filipe Ferreira could come into the back four, teaming up with Reggie Cannon, Vincent Sasso and Nigerian international Bruno Onyemaechi.

At the attacking end of the pitch, 30-year-old Agra staked his claim for a place in the starting XI with a fine cameo last weekend and the former Benfica man could be rewarded with a starting role.

Vizela also have Fernandes suspended for Sunday's matchup after the 26-year-old defender picked up a red card just two minutes into the game against Santa Clara last time out.

Brazilian international Claudemir is another guaranteed absentee for the Vizelenses as the 34-year-old midfielder picked up an injury in the game against Portimonense on October 1.

Boavista possible starting lineup:

Bracali; Cannon, Sasso, Onyemaechi, Ferreira; Malheiro, Makouta, Perez; Lourenco, Gorre, Tavares

Vizela possible starting lineup:

Buntic; Isaac, Wilson, Anderson, Afonso; Samu, Mendez, Rashid; Bondoso, Osmajic, Zohi

We say: Boavista 1-2 Vizela

Despite their slender loss against Santa Clara, Vizela have put together a fine run of form in recent weeks and will be looking to quickly return to winning ways. Pacheco's men take on a floundering Boavista side who are winless in three consecutive matches and we anticipate they will claim all three points on Sunday.

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