Preview: Casa Pia vs. Vizela - prediction, team news, lineups

The Vizelenenses, on the other hand, head into the weekend looking to snap their run of five consecutive league games without a win and steer clear of the bottom three.

Match preview

Casa Pia maintained their unbeaten run in Group A of the Taca da Liga as they came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw against Braga when the sides squared off on Wednesday.

Following a goalless first half at the Estadio Braga Municipal, Portuguese forward Pizzi broke the deadlock two minutes after the hour mark to put the hosts in front but Clayton restored parity from the spot in the 76th minute.

Casa Pia are now unbeaten in three consecutive matches across all competitions, having secured a 2-0 victory over Rabo Peixe in round three of the Taca de Portugal on October 21, one week before holding out for a 1-1 draw against Primeira Liga champions Benfica at the Estadio da Luz.

Filipe Martins's men now turn their attention to the Primeira Liga, where they have failed to win their last four outings, losing twice and picking up two draws since a 1-0 victory over Arouca on September 17.

Os Gansos have won just two of their opening nine league matches while losing three and claiming four draws to collect 10 points and sit 13th in the table, level on points with Farense and Gil Vicente.

After three straight games on the road, Casa Pia now return home, where they have failed to win their last eight Primeira Liga matches, losing four and picking up four draws since March's 2-0 victory over Maritimo.

On the other hand, Vizela's poor early-season form in the Primeira Liga continued last Friday when they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Porto at the Estadio do FC Vizela.

Mehdi Taremi grabbed his second league goal of the season from the penalty spot midway through the first half to put the Dragoes in front before Stephen Eustaquio doubled their advantage with a 44th-minute strike.

Prior to that, Vizela booked their spot in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal on October 21, when they scraped a 1-0 victory over third-tier Atletico CP thanks to a second-half effort from Samuel Essende.

Following last Friday's defeat, the Vizelenses have now failed to win their last five Primeira Liga matches, losing three and picking up two draws since their 1-0 victory over Gil Vicente on September 1.

With six points from their opening nine matches, Vizela are currently 16th in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with 15th-placed Arouca and just two points above rock-bottom Estoril Praia.

While Pablo Villar's men set out in search of a pick-me-up this weekend, they have struggled to get going away from home, where they are without a win in seven straight league games, claiming just points from a possible 21 since April's 1-0 victory at Santa Clara.

However, Vizela will be backing themselves to stop this poor run as they go up against an opposing side who have lost each of their most recent three meetings and have failed to win their last six, losing five and claiming one draw since October 2014.

Casa Pia Primeira Liga form:

D

W

D

L

L

D

Casa Pia form (all competitions):

W

L

L

W

D

D

Vizela Primeira Liga form:

W

L

D

L

D

L

Vizela form (all competitions):

L

D

L

D

W

L

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Team News

Casa Pia remain without Portuguese midfielder Rafael Brito, who continues his long journey to full fitness after sustaining a muscle injury back in May.

Fellow countryman Kiki Silva has also been out of action since March through muscle injury and the 25-year-old will play no part in this weekend's matchup.

Following an impressive midweek performance against Braga, Martins could name a similar side on Sunday, with Clayton leading the attack and Nermin Zolotic, Fernando Varela and Duplexe Tchamba forming the back three once again.

As for Vizela, Villar will be unable to call upon Orest Lebedenko, who is set to sit out his seventh consecutive game after suffering a foot injury against Gil Vicente on September 1.

He is joined on the Vizelenses' injury table by summer signing Houssem Eddine Mrezigue, who is yet to make his debut as he continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Casa Pia possible starting lineup:

Batista; Zolotic, Varela, Tchamba; Lelo, Neto, Justo, Geraldes; Soma, Clayton, Dias

Vizela possible starting lineup:

Buntic; Silva, Wilson, Anderson, Pereira; Nascimento, Busnic; Moreira, Samu, Lacava; Essende

We say: Casa Pia 2-1 Vizela

Unbeaten in their last three matches, including impressive draws against Benfica and Braga, Casa Pia will head into the weekend with renewed confidence. While Vizela have enjoyed the better of this fixture, their form on the road is currently nothing to write home about and we see Os Gansos coming away with a narrow win in front of their home supporters.

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