Gil Vicentevs.AVS

The newcomers fought back from behind to salvage a draw with Nacional in their season curtain-raiser and will journey to the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos looking to build on that result.

Match preview

Gil Vicente were denied a dream start to the new Portuguese Primeira Liga campaign as they suffered a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Porto last Saturday.

In a one-sided affair at the Estadio do Dragao, Wanderson Galeno, Ivan Jaime and Danny Namaso all found the back of the net to fire Porto to an emphatic opening-day victory.

Gil Vicente had enjoyed a solid run of results in pre-season, where they went unbeaten in five of their six warm-up matches — claiming three wins and two draws — with a 1-0 defeat against Celta Vigo on July 26 being the exception.

Toze Marreco's men have come into the 2024-25 campaign looking to improve on their performance from last season as they picked up 36 points from 34 games to finish 12th in the table, just four points above the relegation playoff spot.

Gil Vicente have failed to finish in the top half of Primeira Liga standings the last two seasons, stretching back to the 2021-22 campaign where they picked up 51 points to secure fifth-place and book their spot in Europe.

Playing their first-ever game in the Portuguese top flight, AVS had to dig deep in last week's season opener as they fought back from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with fellow newcomers Nacional.

Miguel Baeza struck in the 35th minute to put Nacional in front at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves but the hosts upped the ante in the second half, with Ecuadorian forward John Mercado levelling matters in the 56th minute.

While he would have hoped for a winning start to life in the big leagues, AVS coach Vitor Campelos will feel proud of the performance of his side, who were formed into the Portuguese Segunda Liga after the demise of UD Vilafranquense just last season.

The Vila das Aves outfit secured promotion to the top flight at the first time of asking as they finished third in the Segunda Liga standings last term, claiming 64 points from 34 games, before edging out Portimonense 4-2 on aggregate in the playoffs.

Like this weekend's host, AVS enjoyed an impressive campaign in the off-season, where they picked up five wins and two draws from their eight friendly matches while scoring 18 goals and keeping three clean sheets.

Gil Vicente Primeira Liga form:

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Gil Vicente form (all competitions):

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AVS Primeira Liga form:

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Team News

Gil Vicente will take to the pitch without the services of Angolan defender Sandro Cruz, who is currently suspended after receiving his marching orders in last week's season opener against Porto.

In his absence, 32-year-old Josue Sa will push for a starting role, forming the back four with Ruben Fernandes, Buatu Mananga and full-back Ze Carlos, while Mory Gbane and Maxime Dominguez should team up at the centre of the park.

At the attacking end of the pitch, Jorge Aguirre, who recently signed from Osasuna B, should lead the Gilistas attack, alongside Tidjany Toure and 23-year-old Felix Correia, who scored five goals last season.

Mercado scored AVS' first-ever Primeira Liga goal with his strike against Nacional and the 22-year-old should retain his role in the final third, forming the attacking trio with Nene and Samuel Granada.

At the defensive end of the pitch, Leo Alaba, Cristian Devenish, Sampaio Pereira and Ignacio Rodriguez should form the visitors' back four, shielding 31-year-old Simao Bertelli between the sticks.

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:

Andrew; Carlos, Fernandes, Mananga, Sa;Gbane, Dominguez, Fujimoto; Toure, Aguirre, Correia

AVS possible starting lineup:

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

We say: Gil Vicente 2-1 AVS

Off the back of a humbling loss against Porto, Gil Vicente will head into Friday's clash looking to find their feet and get their season up and running. While we expect AVS to put up a fight, the Gilistas boast the firepower needed to get the job done and we are backing them to come away with a narrow victory in front of their home super.

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