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: Estoril Praia vs. Moreirense - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 11 January 2024, 22:15
Estoril Praia will be looking to open up some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone in the Primeira Liga when they take on Moreirense at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday evening.

The hosts will come into their second league match of 2024 in 12th place in the league standings with 17 points in 16 games, while the visitors are in sixth place with 26 points over the same period.

Match preview

Estoril spent almost all of last season in the bottom half of the league table, and it looked like they were going to struggle to beat the drop this term after managing just four points from their first nine league matches.

During that time, The Canaries suffered seven defeats, while the only points they managed to secure came in a 2-0 home win over Rio Ave and a 2-2 draw against Vizela back in mid-September.

That run of results saw the side part ways with Alvaro Pacheco after just 85 days in charge, with Vasco Seabra being appointed as the man to navigate the side to safety.

Seabra got his new job started in the worst possible way as his side lost three matches in succession, but since November, the 40-yer-old has managed to spark a notable change in his team's performances as they have now managed to take 13 points from the last 21 on offer and have moved two points clear of Portimonense in the relegation playoff spot.

Estoril saw a three-match unbeaten run at the end of 2023, which included two 4-0 wins and a draw abruptly brought to an end by Sporting Lisbon last weekend when the Lions cruised to a 5-1 victory at Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Nevertheless, a loss to the champions-elect is not the worst thing on earth, and the hosts will be looking to bounce back with another solid performance like they managed when they beat this opponent 1-0 at this venue back in May 2022.

Meanwhile, Moreirense's excellent return to the top flight of the Portuguese football pyramid has been nothing short of remarkable, and the side can likely be forgiven for possibly still fostering hopes of pressuring the teams in the European qualification spots.

The Green and Whites have recorded seven wins, five draws and four losses in 16 league matches this season and currently trail fourth-placed Braga by seven points, while they hold a five-point advantage over Farense in seventh place.

Rui Borges will look back at the latter part of 2023 as a very good period for the side as they managed to end the year unbeaten in 11 league matches, which included seven wins and four draws.

However, they will be looking to get back to winning ways in this match after they were outplayed by a steadily improving Casa Pia in their first match of 2024 and ended on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline last weekend.

Moreirense head into this clash having not lost an away match in their last five outings, but more impressively, they managed to maintain four clean sheets and conceded just one goal away to Gil Vicente in that time.

Estoril Praia Primeira Liga form:

W

L

W

D

W

L

Moreirense Primeira Liga form:

W

D

D

W

D

L

Advert - content below:

Team News

Estoril will have to make do without the services of defender Erick Cabaco, who has been ruled out until at least the end of January with a mildly severe knee injury.

Cassiano and Joao Marques have been in good form in front of goal in recent weeks and should retain their places in the front three alongside French attacker Rafik Guitane.

Moreirense have an almost full roster at their disposal for the upcoming match, barring Wallisson Luiz, who has been flagged as a doubt due to a recurring knee injury.

Andre Luis was given the afternoon off in the side's 4-1 loss to Casa Pia last week, and the striker should return to the starting 11 on Saturday, with Matheus Aias being the most likely to make way.

Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:

Carne; Parra, Alvaro, Vital; Gomes, Holsgrove, Koindredi, Araujo; Marques, Cassiano, Guitane

Moreirense possible starting lineup:

Kewin; Pinto, Maracas, Marcelo, Amador; Ofori, Franco; Camacho, Alanzinho, Madson; Luis

We say: Estoril Praia 2-1 Moreirense

After a very good first half of the season, it will be interesting to see if Moreirense are able to keep up their excellent form moving forward, and they face a stern test here against an Estoril side that are improving week on week. The Canaries have won each of their last four home league games 4-0, and while we do not expect an equally big margin of victory here, we do feel they will be able to grind out another three points.

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.