Preview: Arouca vs. Maritimo - prediction, team news, lineups

The Arouquenses, meanwhile, will head into the weekend looking to get one over the visitors, having failed to win any of the last five meetings between the teams since October 2016.

Match preview

Arouca moved into the Conference League qualification places as they picked up a late 1-0 victory over Famalicao when the sides squared off on Monday.

Guinean midfielder Morlaye Sylla grabbed the headlines at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao as he converted his 93rd-minute penalty to hand the hosts their 13th defeat of the season.

Armando Evangelista's men have now gone five consecutive games without defeat, picking up three wins and two draws since their 2-0 defeat at the hands of Braga in February.

The Arouquenses have now picked up 11 wins, eight draws and lost seven of their 26 matches so far to collect 41 points and sit fifth in the Primeira Liga table, just above sixth-place Vitoria de Guimaraes on goal difference.

This fine run of form has been owing to Arouca's recent resilience at the defensive end of the pitch, where they have kept four clean sheets in their last five games since their loss to Braga.

Maritimo, on the other hand, turned in a performance of the highest quality in front of their home fans as they picked up a morale-boosting 4-2 victory over Boavista last time out.

In a six-goal thriller at the Estadio do Maritimo, goals from Felix Corrie, Brayan Riascos and a brace from Andre Vidigal helped the hosts claim a resounding victory and move away from the automatic relegation places.

Jose Manuel Gomes's men were previously on a three-game losing streak, losing to Gil Vicente, Benfica and Casa Pia while conceding seven goals and failing to find the back of the net since the start of March.

Gomes will hope Sunday's victory against Boavista can serve as a catalyst for a fine run of form as Maritimo look to salvage their season and make a late push from the relegation places.

With 19 points from 26 games, O Maior das Ilhas are currently 16th in the league standings, six points off Estoril Praia just outside the danger zone and two above 17th-placed Pacos de Ferreira in the second automatic relegation spot.

Next up for Maritimo is an Arouca side who are winless in each of the last five meetings between the teams, losing three and claiming two draws since a 1-0 win in October 2016.

Arouca Primeira Liga form:

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Maritimo Primeira Liga form:

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Team News

Arouca will once again be without Oday Dabbagh, who is set to sit out his fifth consecutive game after coming off with a muscle problem in February's game against Casa Pia.

He is joined on the club's injury list by Brazilian forward Vitinho, who continues his long journey to full fitness after suffering a knee problem in October.

Off the back of a resounding performance against Boavista, Gomes could name a similar Arouca XI on Saturday, meaning we could see a back four of Tiago Esgaio, Joao Basso, Nino Galovic and Quaresma Correia.

We expect Bruno Xadas, Corrie and Vidigal to handle business in the final third once again, while Val Soares and Benfica loanee Rafael Brito should form the two-man midfield pivot.

On the injury front, the Arouquenses will have to make do without the duo of Diogo Mendes and 24-year-old goalkeeper Matous Trmal, who continue their spells on the sidelines.

Arouca possible starting lineup:

Arruabarrena; Esgaio, Basso, Galovic, Correia; Busquets, Simao; Sylla, Ruiz, Antony; Mujica

Maritimo possible starting lineup:

Carne; Paulinho, Junior, Mosquera, Costa; Brito, Soares; Moreno; Xadas, Correia, Vidigal

We say: Arouca 2-1 Maritimo

Following their win at Famalicao, Arouca will head into the weekend in sky-high spirits as they make a late push for a place in Europe. The Arouquenses have put together a fine run of form in recent weeks, and while Maritimo will be looking to pick up from where they dropped off last Sunday, we are backing the hosts to pick up all three points in this one.

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