Boavistavs.Nacional

Caretaker boss Jorge Couto made a dream start to life in the dugout last weekend, steering the Checkered Ones to a crucial win away to Rio Ave that breathed new life into their survival push.

Match preview

A new broom sweeps clean, they say, and that certainly rang true for Boavista, who claimed their first multi-goal win of the 2024-25 campaign by brushing aside Rio Ave with a 2-0 victory in midweek.

For a side that has toiled in the final third all season, the nature of the breakthrough would matter little, as Jonathan Panzo inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 17th minute before Ilija Vukotic pounced on a rebound to put the result beyond doubt in the second half.

Though the three points were not enough to lift Couto's men from the foot of the table, they did close the gap on the relegation playoff spot to five points, even if the margin to guaranteed safety remains eight.

The victory snapped a run of three straight losses, and Boavista will now be eager to transform it into a catalyst rather than a one-off, especially as their four wins this season have each been separated by lengthy winless stretches.

Their top-flight record at Estadio do Bessa this campaign, however, paints a grim picture, with just one win, three draws and 10 defeats leaving Os Axadrezados as the division's poorest performers on home soil ahead of a clash with a side they have beaten only once in their last six Primeira Liga meetings.

Meanwhile, Nacional missed a golden chance to ease their own relegation fears when they slipped to a 1-0 reverse at home to Estrela da Amadora, making it consecutive losses after being edged by Santa Clara in their previous outing.

While both games ended with the same scoreline, the manner of the defeats could not have been more different, with the opener against Santa coming early and the setback against Estrela inflicted late on by Jovane Cabral's strike in the 81st minute.

The Madeiran outfit have now lost four of their last six matches, failing to hit the target in each of those defeats, and as a result, they occupy 11th place with 29 points, six above the relegation playoff zone.

Three of those defeats came in succession on the road, further underlining their away-day troubles, with just one win and six points amassed from 14 league trips, making them the worst travelling side in the top flight.

That sole victory came against relegation-threatened SC Farense on February 9, and Tiago Margarido's side will hope that result offers encouragement as they prepare to visit another team battling in the bottom two.

Boavista Primeira Liga form:

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Nacional Primeira Liga form:

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Team News

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Steven Vitoria is back in contention for Boavista after serving a one-match suspension and could be restored to the heart of defence if Couto opts to make changes, although the team's solid display last time out may persuade him to stick with the same back line.

Joao Goncalves, Marco Ribeiro and Tomas Silva remain unavailable as they continue their respective recoveries from injury.

Djibril Soumare's return comes as a timely boost for Nacional, given his influence in the defensive midfield role, and he is expected to be joined by Luis Esteves and Daniel Penha in the visitors' engine room.

Ruben Macedo once again provided a spark off the bench in their previous outing and could be rewarded with a starting berth out wide in place of either Dudu Teodora or Paulinho Boia.

Issac Tomich is also pushing for a place in the XI and might be preferred in attack to Joel Tagueu, as Nacional look to rediscover their cutting edge in the final third.

Marco Ribeiro, Tomas Silva, Miguel Baeza, Ze Vitor and Dyego Sousa are all ruled out through injury, while Ivanildo Fernandes and Jose Gomes are listed as doubts ahead of the trip.

Boavista possible starting lineup:

Cesar; Kurzawa, Abascal, Lystov, Fogning, Agra; Diaby, Perez, Vukotic, Reisinho; Bozenik

Nacional possible starting lineup:

Franca; Garcia, Ulisses, Santos, Appiah; Penha, Soumare, Esteves; Macedo, Isaac, Boia

We say: Boavista 0-0 Nacional

Boavista may ride the wave of their new-manager bounce to deliver another spirited performance, but that alone may not be enough to overcome Nacional, making a stalemate the most probable outcome.

Written by

Adeyeye Oluwapelumi

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