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

While the Vizelenses will head into the game in search of a fourth consecutive win, the visitors will be looking to pick up consecutive league victories for the first time since September.

Match preview

Vizela reignited their push for an European place last Friday as they held their own to see out a 1-0 victory over Santa Clara at the Estadio de Sao Miguel.

Cadiz loanee Milutin Osmajic broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, before the visitors turned in a solid defensive performance to repel O Maior das Ilhas' attack and hand them their eighth consecutive defeat.

Manuel Tulipa's men have now won each of their last three matches, their longest run of consecutive league wins this season, after seeing off Portimonense, Casa Pia and Santa Clara since March's 4-0 loss to Braga.

The Vizelenses' sturdiness at the back has been key to their fine run as they have kept three clean sheets while winning four of their most recent five outings since the start of March.

This fine run of form has seen Vizela surge to eighth place in the Primeira Liga standings, level on 38 points with ninth-placed Casa Pia and six points off fifth-placed Arouca in the final Conference League qualifying spot.

Boavista, on the other hand, returned to winning ways last time out as they edged out Vitoria de Guimaraes 2-1 when the sides squared off at the Estadio do Bessa.

In a heated contest that saw three sending-offs, Salvador Agra and Gaius Makouta scored on either side of Andre Andre's 60th minute equaliser to send Joao Aroso's men back home empty-handed.

Boavista were previously on a run of three consecutive defeats and had managed just one point from their last four outings since February's 3-1 victory at Pacos de Ferreira.

Os Axadrezados have now picked up nine wins, six draws and lost 12 of their 27 games to collect 33 points and sit 12th in the league table, three points off the top half.

While Petit's men will be looking to make it two back-to-back wins for the first time this year, they are winless in eight of their last nine away games, losing six and claiming two draws since the start of December.

However, Boavista will be backing themselves to pick up the desired results as they face a Vizela side against whom they are unbeaten in their last four meetings, picking up two wins and four draws since August 2018.

Vizela Primeira Liga form:

L

W

L

W

W

W

Boavista Primeira Liga form:

W

D

L

L

L

W

Team News

Vizela will take to the pitch without the services of full-back Kiki Afonso, who has missed the last two matches after coming off injured midway through March's clash with Portimonense.

Having recently recovered from a muscle problem, Bruno Wilson played the full 90 minutes against Santa Clara last Friday and the Portuguese defender should retain his role in the Vizelenses' backline.

Meanwhile, Boavista will be without Rodrigo Abascal, who will serve the first of his three-match suspension after picking up a straight red against Vitoria de Guimaraes last time out.

In his absence, experienced centre-back Vincent Sasso should come in for his 20th start of the season, forming the back four with Pedro Malheiro, Reggie Cannon and Bruno Onyemaechi.

At the opposite end of the pitch, we expect an unchanged front three of Yusupha Njie, Kenji Gorre and 31-year-old Agra, who has scored in the visitors' last two outings.

Vizela possible starting lineup:

Buntic; Juliao, Anderson, Wilson, Pereira; Ortiz, Guzzo; Bondoso, Samu, Moreira; Osmajic

Boavista possible starting lineup:

Bracali; Malheiro, Cannon, Sasso, Onyemaechi; Perez, Makouta, Lourenco; Agra, Gorre, Njie

We say: Vizela 2-1 Boavista

While Boavista will be looking to build on last week's result, they face a rejuvenated Vizela side who have won their last three matches. Alongside their new-found form, Tulipa's men have home advantage in their favour and we are tipping them to edge out the visitors, who have struggled for results on the road.

Previews by email