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. Portimonense - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 13 March 2024, 21:02
A key battle in the fight for survival at the bottom end of the Primeira Liga table will take place at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Friday, as Estoril Praia entertain Portimonense.

The two teams are settled by a single point with nine games to go, as the hosts occupy the relegation playoff spot and the visitors are just one place above the bottom three.

Match preview

Estoril Praia return to action on Friday aiming to jump out of the bottom three in the Primeira Liga, having endured a dismal campaign thus far in their bid to maintain their top-flight status.

After a 14th-placed finish last time around, the Canarinhos currently occupy the relegation playoff place, having earned just 22 points from their first 25 outings and picked up just six victories along the way.

The most recent of those three-point hauls came at home to fellow strugglers Estrela Amadora in early February, triumphing by a goal to nil, but Vasco Seabra's side have been unable to mount an improved survival bid since, adding just one more point to their tally in the last five attempts.

Losses to Boavista and Gil Vicente immediately followed that victory, and after a 3-3 draw with 17th-placed Vizela in which they were pegged back by a 95th-minute leveller, the Canarinhos head into Friday's meeting again on the back of consecutive defeats, falling short at home to Vitoria de Guimaraes before most recently suffering a 3-1 loss away at title-chasing Benfica on Sunday, despite drawing level through Rodrigo Gomes in the 22nd minute.

Now sitting in the relegation playoff place as a result of their slump, with Estrela Amadora having leapt out of the bottom three last weekend, Estoril Praia will be desperate to bounce back on Friday and improve their survival chances with a home win that would see them leapfrog the visitors and move out the drop zone.

The travelling side, meanwhile, will bid to increase their slender lead over the hosts on Friday, having endured a similarly tough campaign in the fight for Primeira Liga survival thus far.

From their opening 25 games, Portimonense have only managed 23 points, one more than Estoril, having also picked up just six top-flight victories.

The most recent two of those triumphs came over Farense and Boavista in a three-match span in January, with the latter being a 4-1 thrashing, but like their hosts, Paulo Sergio's side have been unable to build an improved run to bolster their survival hopes since and find themselves six games without a victory in the top flight.

That rut began with consecutive defeats to Arouca and Estrela Amadora, and after playing out home draws with Vitoria de Guimaraes and Vizela either side of a 4-0 thrashing away at Benfica, the Alvinegros most recently hosted Porto last Friday and again came away empty-handed from a 3-0 beating, as Nico Gonzalez opened the scoring inside 10 minutes and Galeno and Pepe added second-half goals for the visitors.

Now only leading the bottom three by a single point with nine matches to go, Portimonense will travel to Estoril in search of a crucial victory on Friday to extend their cushion and move further away from the bottom three with Rio Ave and Estrela Amadora just one and two points ahead respectively.

Estoril Praia Primeira Liga form:

W

L

L

D

L

L

Portimonense Primeira Liga form:

L

L

D

L

D

L

Team News

Estoril Praia will remain without midfielder Jordan Holsgrove, who has been sidelined by injury since January, while Erick Cababo will also continue a lengthy spell in the treatment room.

Forwards Cassiano and Alejandro Marques sit level at the top of the Canarinhos' scoring charts with 10 goals each this season, with the former having started in their defeat to Benfica last time out and the latter settling for a substitute appearance, and Seabra may look to fit both in on Friday, with Rafik Guitane and Heriberto Tavares also vying to keep their places in attack.

If they stick with a 3-4-3 shape, Vinicius Zanocelo and Mateus Fernandes should again partner up in the midfield, while Joao Basso, Bernardo Vital and Eliaquim Mangala will likely continue in an unaltered back three.

After missing the Porto game last time out through suspension, Pedro Henrique should return from the outset in the middle of the Portimonense back line on Friday.

He will rejoin Alemao, allowing Filipe Relvas to shift back to the left-hand side of the defence, while Nonoca and Dener should continue their partnership in the engine room.

Helio Varela was given the nod to lead the line in their 4-2-3-1 setup last time out, but Ronie Carrillo and Hildeberto Pereira will both fight to come back in up front, while captain Carlinhos is arguably their main threat going forward having netted eight goals and provided three assists across all competitions so far this term.

Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:

Figueira; Basso, Vital, Mangala; Pina, Fernandes, Zanocelo, Gomes; Guitane, Cassiano, Marques

Portimonense possible starting lineup:

Nakamura; Formiga, Alemao, Henrique, Relvas; Nonoca, Dener; Jasper, Carlinhos, Varela; Carrillo

We say: Estoril Praia 1-1 Portimonense

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.