Preview: Boavista vs. Chaves - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides enter the weekend either side of mid-table, separated by just a point.

Match preview

Chaves are six points off the European places and Boavista are six points off the relegation zone, but that could switch around depending on the result here.

Both teams could realistically be involved in a battle at either end of the table come the latter months of the season, but on recent form, they look like they may slip down the standings rather than make a surge for Europe.

Boavista do still have a game in hand on most sides in the division though and are in slightly better form, after a win over Gil Vicente in their last home game.

A 1-0 defeat to Braga last time out at least produced a spirited display, but they will have been disappointed at giving away such an avoidable goal which turned out to be crucial.

It has been a decent return to action on the league front though, as Petit's side did not win any of their last six games before the season's intermission.

Losing to second-tier Academico Viseu in the League Cup quarter-finals was also a bitter blow to take, but it should leave them able to focus on finishing high in the league where the final European place could go to anybody at the moment.

Chaves were one of the sides well in the hunt for that spot, which is currently occupied by another newly-promoted side, Casa Pia, but losing top scorer Hector Hernandez has hit them hard.

Vitor Campelos's side have won none of the four games they have played in his absence, scoring just three goals.

Relying on penalties from their sole World Cup representative, Steven Vitoria with Canada, has been the source of many of their points in recent matches.

They have taken just two points from a possible nine since the return and they finished bottom of their League Cup group, behind second-tier Mafra who beat them at home.

If form does not pick up again they could soon find themselves in the bottom half and embroiled in a relegation fight in their first season back at this level.

Boavista Primeira Liga form:

L

D

L

L

W

L

Boavista form (all competitions):

W

W

D

L

W

L

Chaves Primeira Liga form:

L

D

W

L

D

D

Chaves form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

D

D

Team News

US international Reggie Cannon should return on the right-hand side of defence after serving a one-match suspension in Boavista's last outing.

Filipe Ferreira will miss out once again though with injury and is the home side's only absentee.

Joao Correia is a doubt for this one after he missed Chaves' draw with Arouca last weekend.

Hernandez will be a big miss up front as his replacement, Issah Abass, has yet to find the net in Portugal following his move from Mainz.

Sidy Sarr is injured for the second time since joining the club in the summer from Nimes, having made only one league appearance all season.

Boavista possible starting lineup:

Rafael Bracali; Cannon, Sasso, Abascal; Pedro Malheiro, Makouta, Perez, Mangas; Salvador Agra, Njie, Lourenco

Chaves possible starting lineup:

Paulo Vitor; Sylla, Steven Vitoria, Monte, Langa; Joao Teixeira, Obiora, Ricardo Guimaraes; Singh, Abass, Juninho

We say: Boavista 0-0 Chaves

It is a game that does not offer too much on paper as both sides have scored just four goals in their last five matches and are almost neck-and-neck in league position.

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