Preview: Vizela vs. Casa Pia - prediction, team news, lineups

Filipe Martins's men, meanwhile, will be looking to pick up their first away win since the turn of the year and move into the Conference League qualification places.

Match preview

Vizela made it two back-to-back away wins just before the international break as they edged out Portimonense 1-0 at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao on March 18.

In a game where Pedro Sa received an early bath, Portuguese midfielder Raphael Guzzo came up clutch for the visitors as he grabbed the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Prior to that, Manuel Tulipa's side snapped their four-game winless run courtesy of a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Estoril Praia on March 4, one week before crashing back to earth in a 4-0 loss against Braga.

While Vizela have picked up seven points from their last three away games, they have struggled to get going on home turf, where they are currently on a three-game winless run.

Since a 3-1 victory over Rio Ave on January 29, the Vizelenses have picked up just two points from a possible nine at the Estadio do FC Vizela while conceding six goals and failing to find the back of the net in that time.

Vizela have picked up nine wins, five draws and have lost 11 of their 25 league matches so far to collect 32 points and sit 10th in the Primeira League table, level on points with 11th-placed Chaves.

Casa Pia, on the other hand, maintained their impressive home form last time out when they cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Maritimo at the the Estadio Pina Manique.

In an action-packed contest, January signing Felippe Cardoso announced himself to the home crowd as he scored on either side of the interval to hand Os Gansos all three points.

Casa Pia have now won all but one of their last four home matches — scoring six goals and keeping two clean sheets — with a goalless draw against Vitoria de Guimaraes on February 19 being the exception.

However, home is currently only where the heart is for the Lisbon outfit as they have failed to win their five away matches in the league since the turn of the year, picking up one draw and losing four matches since a 2-1 win at Portimonense on December 28.

With 38 points from 25 matches, Casa Pia are currently sixth in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with seventh-placed Arouca and two points off Vitoria de Guimaraes in the Conference League qualification spot.

While Martins's side set out to potentially leapfrog Os Vimaranenses this weekend, they are winless in their previous five games against Vizela, losing four and claiming one draw since October 2014.

Vizela Primeira Liga form:

D

D

L

W

L

W

Casa Pia Primeira Liga form:

D

D

L

W

L

W

Team News

Portuguese centre-back Bruno Wilson picked up a muscle injury against Estoril Praia on March 4 and the 26-year-old is set to sit out his third consecutive game.

He is joined on the Vizela injury table by left-back Kiki Afonso, who came off injured inside the opening half hour against Portimonense.

Fellow defender Igor Juliao will sit out Saturday's game through a one-game suspension after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking last time out.

Like the hosts, Clayton and goalkeeper Ricardo Batista are both suspended due to accumulated yellow cards and will play no part for Casa Pia.

In Batista's absence, back-up goalkeeper Lucas Paes should start between the sticks, while Joao Nunes, Vasco Fernandes and Nermin Zolotic should form the back three once again following their solid display against Maritimo.

Vizela possible starting lineup:

Buntic; Conceicao, Fernandes, Anderson, Pereira; Guzzo, Claudemir; Bondoso, Samu, Lacava; Osmajic

Casa Pia possible starting lineup:

Paes; Nunes, Fernandes, Zolotic; Poloni, Taira, Mukendi, Lelo; Godwin, Cardoso, Soma

We say: Vizela 1-1 Casa Pia

Vizela and Casa Pia head into the weekend in similar form and we anticipate a thrilling contest between the two evenly-matched sides. Os Gansos have struggled for results on the road but we predict they will hold the Vizelenses to a share of the spoils and leave the Estadio do FC Vizela with a point.

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