Estorilvs.Braga

A run of seven points from the last nine available has seen the Canarinhos surge from the doldrums and they will head into the weekend looking to pull six points clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

Estoril Praia were guilty of a lack of sting at the attacking end of the pitch last Saturday as they played out a goalless draw with Casa Pia when the two sides squared off at the Estadio Pina Manique.

A total of 22 shots were fired in the game but neither goalkeeper would end up picking the ball out of the back of the net, with a draw being a fair result upon reflection.

Prior to that, Estoril Praia snapped their five-match winless run with a 1-0 victory over Portimonense on March 15, two weeks before securing an impressive 1-0 victory over Porto courtesy of a second-half strike from Cassiano.

Having struggled for results since the turn of the year, the Canarinhos' recent turnaround has seen them rise from the danger zone as they now sit 13th in the table, three points above 16th-placed Portimonense in the relegation playoff spot.

Over in the North, Braga were sent crashing back down to earth in their push for a Champions League spot as they suffered a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Arouca last Saturday.

The Arouquenses turned in an impressive team display at the Estadio Braga Municipal as a brace from Rafa Mujica and Sedar Saatci's first-half own goal inspired them to their 12th win of the season.

The loss to Arouca saw Braga's seven-game unbeaten run come to an end as they had picked up six wins and one draw in their previous seven matches across all competitions since mid-February.

With 56 points from 28 matches, Braga are currently fourth in the Primeira Liga table, level on points with fifth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes and two behind third-placed Porto in the Europa League qualification spot.

Artur Jorge's men will be backing themselves to return to winning ways on Saturday as they take on an Estoril side who have lost their last four encounters and have failed to win any of their last 12 since a 1-0 victory in September 2015 — losing 10 and claiming two draws.

Their most recent encounter came in the final of Taca da Liga on January 27, when Braga secured a penalty shoot-out victory following a 1-1 draw in normal time at the Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa.

Estoril Praia Primeira Liga form:

D

L

L

W

W

D

Braga Primeira Liga form:

W

W

D

W

W

L

Team News

Estoril Praia remain without Scottish midfielder Jordan Holsgrove, who has been out of action since suffering a muscle injury in the Taca da Liga final against Braga back in January.

He is joined in the Canarinhos' injury table by experienced defender Erick Cabaco, who is ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an Achilles tendon injury last September.

Fellow defender Bernardo Vital will also play no part in Saturday's game as he serves the second of his three-game suspension after picking up a straight red card against Porto on March 30.

Braga will have to cope without 32-year-old defender Paulo Oliveira, who has missed each of the last two games since coming off with a thigh problem against Gil Vicente on March 16.

Spanish defender Adrian Marin has also been sidelined since sustaining a knee injury against Porto on January 14 and the 27-year-old will also play no part in Saturday's game.

Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:

Carne; Volnei, Basso, Mangala; Pina, Fernandes, Zanocelo, Araujo, Guitane; Cassiano, Gomes

Braga possible starting lineup:

Lima; Gomez, Saatci, Niakate, Mendes; Fernandes, Zalazar, Moutinho, Bruma; Ruiz, Banza

We say: Estoril Praia 1-2 Braga

With the season now at its business end, both Estoril Praia and Braga know they must avoid any further slip-ups in their final six games. Jorge's men have enjoyed the better of this fixture, and while we expect Estoril to put up a fight, they should have enough firepower to see off the hosts.

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