Estrela Amadoravs.Santa Clara

The hosts, who are a point and a place above the relegation playoff zone, will continue their quest to safeguard their top-flight status, while European hopefuls Santa Clara will aim to claim the scalp of the home side to stretch their three-game unbeaten streak away from their turf.

Match preview

Estrela have struggled since the turn of the year with two draws and four losses, but they managed to record their first win of the calendar year in their last league outing.

The Tricolours claimed a 1-0 triumph over bottom-placed Boavista to end their long-lasting wait for victory in 2025, but they are still in very real and immediate relegation danger with 20 points across 22 matches - a point and a place above the relegation playoff position.

Much of Estrela's woes have been down to their leaky defence, and a lack of firepower at the other end of the pitch.

Jose Faria's team have conceded 34 goals this term, a record which is the joint-third worst in the division, and their dismal tally of 19 goals scored this season does not offer much hope to the home fans.

Estrela's form in front of those home fans has taken a sharp turn for the worse since the new year too, with three successive defeats on their own patch in 2025 so far, having ended 2024 with three consecutive wins and a run of six home games unbeaten stretching back to August.

Although they lost by a narrow 1-0 margin in the reverse fixture, the home fans can draw inspiration from their record of only one defeat against the visitors since 1999.

Elsewhere, Santa Clara have carried their sterling form that saw them emerge as champions of the Portuguese second tier last season to the top flight this term, taking the Primeira Liga by storm in 2024-25.

Indeed, the Azoreans are currently on course for their best-ever finish as a club, and a victory this weekend would see them already surpass their points tally from 2021-22, which stands out as their second-highest finish ever as they ended the campaign in seventh.

Although the visitors suffered a 1-0 loss to Benfica in their last league outing, they are still very much in the race for European football next season.

That defeat leaves Vasco Matos's men fifth in the standings with 38 points from 22 matches - a place and six points adrift of Braga, who currently occupy the lone Conference League qualifying spot.

Having recorded five wins, a draw and four losses in their 10 fixtures on the road this term, the visitors boast the sixth-best away record in the league this season.

Ahead of this fixture, the Azoreans can also count on their defence, which is the fifth-best in the league with 23 goals conceded and seven clean sheets, to see them through this fixture.

Estrela Amadora Primeira Liga form:

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L

D

L

L

W

Santa Clara Primeira Liga form:

D

L

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W

W

L

Team News

The hosts will be without Tiago Mamede through injury for this match, but aside from that they have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Jovane Cabral and Alan Ruis gave a good account of themselves when they came on as substitutes in their last outing, and so they are likely to be named in the starting XI for Sunday's encounter.

Rodrigo Pinho scored the winner last time out, so he is expected to lead the line once again.

For the away side, Porto loanee Wendel Silva and Pedro Pacheco are sidelined with injuries, while Sidney Lima is out due to a suspension.

Meanwhile, Joao Costa is in line to start up front, along with Vinicius Lopes and Ricardinho in attack.

Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:

Costa; Drame, Ferro, Pantalon; Varela, Moreira, Oudrhiri, Travassos; Ronaldo, Pinho, Ruiz

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Batista, Venancio, Soares, Rochas; Calila, Serginho, Firmino, Nunes; Lopes, Costa, Ricardinho

We say: Estrela Amadora 1-2 Santa Clara

Santa Clara have defied all expectations so far in their first campaign back in the top flight this season, and they are currently on course to post their best-ever finish.

Written by

Ademola Adediji

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