Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 18 August 2022, 21:46
The Portuguese Primeira Liga returns with a fresh set of fixtures as newly-promoted Chaves play host to Vizela at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira on Saturday.

The Vizelenses have won their last two away games across all competitions and will head into the weekend seeking to make it three on the bounce for the first time since March 2021.

Match preview

It took Chaves just two games to get their first win since returning to the Portuguese top flight as they saw off Maritimo 2-1 when the sides met at the Estadio dos Barreiros last Monday.

After trailing at the half-time interval courtesy of Joel Tagueu's 39th-minute opener, the Flavienses upped the ante in the second period as Joao Teixeira and Joao Bachi scored in a five-minute spell to turn the game on its head.

Prior to that, Chaves, who claimed a 2-1 aggregate win over Moreirense in the promotion playoffs final back in May, kicked off their Primeira Liga campaign with a 1-0 loss against Vitoria de Guimaraes on August's 7.

Vitor Campelos's men now return to their home turf where they are unbeaten in all but one of their last 12 competitive outings in 2022, picking up nine wins and two draws since the turn of the year.

Vizela, on the other hand, were denied a third victory on the bounce in all competitions last time out when they fell to a slender 1-0 defeat at the hands of Porto.

Alvaro Pacheco's men turned in a defensive show of class at the Estadio do Vizela to keep the scores level for most of the game, but Ivan Marcano struck in the 90th-minute to hand the reigning champions a hard-earned victory.

Prior to that, Vizela wrapped up their pre-season with a 2-1 victory at Pacos de Ferreira to end their five-game losing streak across all competitions, before claiming a 1-0 victory over Rio Ave in their league curtain-raiser on August 6.

The Vizelenses, who finished 14th in the Primeira Liga and four points above the relegation zone last season, head into the weekend on a run of three defeats from their last four away games in the league.

While they will be looking to return to winning ways and set the pace for an early run of form, next up is a Chaves side who they failed to defeat in their two attempts when the teams met in the Segunda Liga back in the 2020-21 campaign.

Chaves Primeira Liga form:

Chaves form (all competitions):

Vizela Primeira Liga form:

Vizela form (all competitions):

Team News

Off the back of an impressive outing against Maritimo last Monday, Pacheco could name a similar starting side this weekend, meaning we could see a back four of Joao Correia, Steven Vitoria, Nelson Montes and Bruno Langa shielding Paulo Vitor in goal.

Twenty-five-year-old Kevin should retain his starting role at the centre of the park, teaming up with Joao Mendes and former Sporting Lisbon man Bernardo Sousa.

Bachi and Teixeira, who netted a combined 14 goals in the Segunda Liga last season, should spearhead the attack once again, alongside newly-signed Spanish forward Hector Hernandez.

Meanwhile, Vizela turned in a defensive show of class to repel Porto for most of the game in their last outing and Pacheco could name an unchanged back line of Kiki Afonso, Anderson, Bruno Wilson and Tomas Silva.

However, Kiko Bondoso is a doubt for the Vizelenses after the 26-year-old forward came off with a late injury in the game against Porto last time out.

Should he fail to shake off his injury, Nigerian youngster Monsuru Opeyemi could come in for his second start of the season, teaming up with Kevin Zohi and Nuno Moreira in the final third.

Chaves possible starting lineup:

Vitor; Correia, Vitoria, Montes, Langa; Kevin, Sousa,Mendes; Bachi, Teixeira, Hernandez

Vizela possible starting lineup:

Buntic; Silva, Wilson, Anderson, Afonso; Samu, Guzzo, Rosa; Zohi, Opeyemi, Moreira

We say: Chaves 1-1 Vizela

Chavez picked up their first win of the season and will hope that result can serve as a springboard for a fine run of form. However, we predict Vizela will make use of their experience and hold out for a share of the spoils.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England moved to the top of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group on Thursday evening courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Didier Deschamps was left frustrated on Thursday as his France side failed to capitalise on their dominance against Israel, being held to a 0-0 draw, though they still progressed to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after Italy beat Belgium in the other League A Group 2 fixture. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have risen to the top of Group 2 of League B in the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece in Athens on Thursday night. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandro Tonali's first international goal was enough to send Italy through to the finals of the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 1-0 win away in Belgium this evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will go head-to-head in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has asked Manchester City to sign two defenders in 2025, according to a report. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that his club are not planning to be active during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Montenegro welcome Iceland to Stadion Kraj Bistrice in Niksic for their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be looking to secure derby bragging rights when they face off in Saturday's Women's Super League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacho has ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid amid suggestions that Los Blancos were considering making an attempt to re-sign him during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams with contrasting objectives in the National League are set to meet at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, as promotion hopefuls Gateshead host relegation-threatened Aldershot Town. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will reportedly take Manchester United training for the first time on Monday, with the club confident that his visa will have arrived in time for him to officially get on the grass next week. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said that a back issue forced Lisandro Martinez to pull out of the squad for the national team's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches with Paraguay and Peru. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly set his sights on an exit from the club next summer, and plans to take key man Alex Grimaldo with him. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will attempt to claim back-to-back victories when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea.