Aroucavs.Boavista

Having suffered a 4-0 thrashing in December's reverse fixture, Os Axadrezados will head into the weekend looking to get one over the hosts and end their three-match winless run.

Match preview

Arouca turned in another performance of the highest quality last Saturday when they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Braga at the Estadio Braga Municipal.

Os Arcebispos were simply outplayed on their home turf as a brace from Rafa Mujica and a first-half own goal from defender Sedar Saatci inspired the visitors to an emphatic victory.

This followed a 2-1 victory over 10-man Farense on March 30 which saw their two-game losing streak — a 3-0 defeat to Sporting Lisbon on March 10, one week before losing 1-0 to Moreirense — come to an end.

Daniel Sousa's side have now won 12 of their 28 Primeira Liga matches while losing 12 and claiming four draws to collect 40 points and sit seventh in the league table, three points behind sixth-placed Moreirense.

Arouca now return to the Estadio Municipal de Arouca, where they have won all but one of their last five matches, with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of title-chasing Sporting Lisbon on March 10 being the exception.

Boavista, on the other hand, failed to pull clear of the danger zone as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Farense when the sides squared off last Friday.

In an action-packed contest at the Estadio de Sao Luis, Claudio Falcao and Bruno Duarte scored quick-fire goals in the first half to inspire the hosts to their eighth league win of the season.

Ricardo Paiva's men have now gone three consecutive games without a win, picking up one point from a possible nine while conceding eight goals and scoring just once since scraping a 1-0 win over Moreirense on March 9.

With 29 points from 28 matches, Boavista are currently 13th in the Primeira Liga table, level on points with Rio Ave and Estoril Praia, and could move into ninth-place with all three points on Saturday.

However, Os Axadrezados take on an opposing side whom they have failed to get the better of in each of their last three encounters, losing twice and claiming one draw since a 2-1 victory in September 2022.

Arouca Primeira Liga form:

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Boavista Primeira Liga form:

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Team News

With his brace against Braga, Mujica now has 13 goal involvements in 12 matches since the turn of the year and we expect the Spanish forward to spearhead Arouca's attack once again.

Mujica, who is currently third in the Primeira Liga scoring chart with 18 goals, should be joined in the final third by Morlaye Sylla, Jason and fellow Spaniard Cristo Gonzalez, who has 12 goals and eight assists in the league.

At the opposite end of the pitch, we expect an unchanged back four of Bogdan Milovanov, Matias Rocha, Francisco Montero and 23-year-old Weverson, while Pedro Santos and David Simao should team up at the centre of the park.

Meanwhile, Boavista remain without the services of veteran goalkeeper Cesar Dutra, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines through an ACL injury.

He is joined on the club's injury table by fellow Brazilian Morales Pires while teenage defender Augusto Dabo continues his long road to full fitness having suffered a severe injury in July 2023.

Arouca possible starting lineup:

Arruabarrena; Milovanov, Rocha, Montero, Weverson; Santos, Simao; Jason, Gonzalez, Sylla; Mujica

Boavista possible starting lineup:

Goncalves; Awaziem, Abascal, Onyemaechi; Malheiro, Camara, Vukotic, Ferreira; Berna, Lourenco, Bozenik

We say: Arouca 2-0 Boavista

While Boavista will be looking to find their feet this weekend, they take on a spirited Arouca side who have been rock-solid at home in recent weeks. We predict the Arouquenses will pick up where they left off against Braga and come away with another comfortable victory.

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