Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

AVSvs.Guimaraes

sportsmole.co.uk, 23 August 2024, 21:31
Seeking to pick up their first win of the new Portuguese Primeira Liga campaign, AVS play host to Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves on Sunday.

Os Vimaranenses head into the weekend fresh off the back of an emphatic victory in the Conference League playoffs and will be looking to make it six wins from six to start the season.

Match preview

AVS were denied their first win of the season as they suffered a 4-2 defeat against Gil Vicente when the two sides squared off at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos last Friday.

After Jorge Aguirre and Kanya Fujimoto scored in a four-minute spell to cancel out Kiki Afonso's 32nd-minute opener, Nene netted on the stroke of half time to draw the visitors level, but Fujimoto struck twice in the second half to complete a sensational hat-trick and fire the Gilistas to their first league win.

Prior to that, AVS kicked off the 2024-25 Primeira Liga campaign with a 1-1 draw against fellow newcomers Nacional on August 10, when Miguel Baeza and John Mercado scored for either side to force a share of the spoils at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves.

Having picked up a 4-2 aggregate victory over Portimonense in the playoff final to secure promotion to the top tier for the first time in club history, Vitor Campelos's men will head into the weekend looking to secure their first-ever top-flight win and get up and running in the big leagues.

However, AVS have struggled to impose themselves on home turf as they have won just one of their six matches at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves while losing three and claiming two draws since going on a run of four back-to-back victories between January and March.

Vitoria de Guimaraes, on the other hand, placed one foot in the Conference League as they stormed to a 3-0 victory over Zrinjski Mostar in the first leg of their playoff clash last Wednesday.

Following a relatively uneventful first half at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques, the hosts upped the ante after the break as Ricardo Mangas, Toni Borevkovic and Joao Mendes all found the back of the net to see off the Bosnian outfit.

Vitoria de Guimaraes had stormed through the first two qualifying rounds as they kicked off their quest for European football with a 5-0 aggregate victory over Malta-based side Floriana FC before seeing off FC Zurich 5-0 over two legs in the third round.

Rui Borges' men now turn their attention to the Primeira Liga, where they have enjoyed a solid start to the new campaign, picking up two wins from their opening two matches while scoring two goals and keeping two clean sheets.

A first-half strike from Nelson Oliveira fired Guimaraes to a 1-0 win over 10-man Arouca at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca in the league curtain-raiser on August 12, six days before they held firm to secure a 1-0 victory over Estoril Praia.

Os Vimaranenses have now won each of their last 12 matches across all competitions, stretching back to a narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of Braga on May 11, and have kept seven clean sheets in each of their seven games in all competitions this season.

AVS Primeira Liga form:

AVS form (all competitions):

L

D

W

W

D

L

Vitoria de Guimaraes Primeira Liga form:

Vitoria de Guimaraes form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Team News

AVS will take to the pitch without the services of Brazilian striker Samuel Granada, who is currently suspended after coming off injured against Gil Vicente last Friday.

In his absence, Yair Mena will push for his first start of the campaign, forming the front three with Mercado and 41-year-old Nene, who opened his account against the Gilistas.

At the defensive end of the pitch, Leo Alaba, Cristian Devenish, Sampaio Pereira and Afonso should form the back four once again, while Giorgi Aburjania, Baptiste Roux and Lucas Piazon should retain their roles at the centre of the park.

Tiago Silva was a standout performer for Vitoria de Guimaraes against Zrinjski and the 31-year-old, who has four assists in his last three games, will be one to keep an eye on.

With his strike against Zrinjski, Mangas now has five goal involvements in the Conference League qualifiers and the 26-year-old should lead Os Vimaranenses' attack, alongside Oliveira and Kaio Cesar.

AVS possible starting lineup:

Bertelli; Alaba, Devenish, Pereira, Afonso; Aburjania, Roux, Piazon; Granada, Nene, Mercado

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:

Varela; Gaspar, Borevkovic, Villanueva, Mendes; Silva, Handel, Samu; Arcanjo, Ramirez, Mangas

We say: AVS 1-3 Vitoria de Guimaraes

Vitoria de Guimaraes have flown out of the blocks this season and will be backing themselves against an inexperienced AVS side. While we expect the hosts to put up a fight, we predict Os Vimaranenses will pick up where they left off in midweek and secure a comfortable victory at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves.

Previews by email

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola deciding to extend his stay at Manchester City could be good news for them in more than one sense. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo admitted there will be one key challenge to his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, becoming a professional footballer. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Caoimhin Kelleher has the opportunity to become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper - he's too good to be Liverpool's back-up. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva will be working with almost a fully-fit squad when his Fulham side play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Al Ettifaq chiefs admitted they were left in shock when Jordan Henderson told them he wanted to leave just months into joining the Saudi Pro League club. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia will play their first game since the devastating DANA storm struck the region when they welcome Real Betis to Mestalla for Saturday's La Liga contest. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides that were glad to see international football intervene will return from a much-needed break on Saturday, as Aston Villa and Crystal Palace meet at Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Johnstone host Kilmarnock this weekend at McDiarmid Park, in a clash between two struggling Scottish Premiership sides. 21 November 2024 talksport.com It would take a lot to humiliate Cole Palmer on a football pitch, but he's revealed what would need to happen to do so. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Iago Aspas is once again expected to start, as Celta Vigo continue their 2024-25 La Liga campaign with a contest against division leaders Barcelona on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are set to again be without the services of a number of important players for Saturday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo, including Lamine Yamal, with the Spaniard not yet recovering from an ankle problem. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of the League One table meet on Saturday, as Burton Albion host Stockport County at the Pirelli Stadium. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's YouTube video with Mr Beast hit one million views in just 30 minutes. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion, Ipswich Town and Southampton are all reportedly interested in signing Vasco da Gama youngster Rayan. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk La Liga leaders Barcelona will be bidding to bounce back from a surprise defeat before the November international break when they resume their league campaign away to Celta Vigo on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Arsenal need a figure up front like Alexander Isak to replace Kai Havertz. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, are set to travel to Tynecastle Park to face relegation-threatened Hearts on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim will take charge of his first game as Manchester United manager this weekend as his side take on Ipswich.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon