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. Santa Clara - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 28 April 2023, 17:04
A key battle at the bottom end of the Primeira Liga table will take place at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Sunday, as Estoril Praia entertain Santa Clara.

With six league games to go, the visitors find themselves at the foot of Portugal's top flight, six points behind Maritimo in the relegation playoff place, while their hosts sit just one place and three points above that playoff spot following three straight defeats.

Match preview

After finishing ninth on their return to the Primeira Liga last season, it has been a tougher campaign for Estoril Praia this time around, as they have found themselves in trouble since enduring a dismal run early in the new year.

The Canarinhos moved up to eighth spot with a victory over Casa Pia in mid-January, but they have since lost 12 of their last 14 top-flight matches, firstly suffering three straight defeats before beating Boavista on home turf in early February.

That was followed by two further losses, spelling the end for Nelson Verissimo's spell as manager, but new boss Ricardo Soares was unable to inspire a change in form, with the losing run stretched to six matches before they, at least, hugely boosted their survival chances with a 1-0 triumph over Gil Vicente earlier this month, thanks to Alejandro Marques's first-minute goal.

That took the Canarinhos onto 25 points from 26 league outings, but once again they have been unable to build on that victory and now head into the weekend on the back of three more consecutive defeats, firstly falling short against Braga and Portimonense, before most recently being beaten 1-0 away at leaders Benfica last Sunday as Nicolas Otamendi netted the decisive goal.

As a result of their poor form since the turn of the year, Estoril Praia do still find themselves involved in the fight to guarantee their safety, and with just a three-point lead over Maritimo in the relegation playoff place, they will be desperate to reverse their fortunes in the final run-in and move clear of the bottom three.

Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip knowing they need more than that if they are to avoid the drop, having experienced a particularly dismal campaign in Portugal's top flight this season.

Santa Clara dropped into the bottom three at the beginning of January and have not climbed out at any point since, having now gone 16 matches without a victory while only collecting three points along the way.

Following a draw with Boavista in early February, Os Acoreanos would endure a run of nine straight losses in the Primeira Liga, being rooted to the foot of the division as a result as they conceded 19 goals and only scored four along the way.

That culminated in a 2-1 defeat away at Porto, before Danildo Accioly were at least able to end the losing run with a 1-1 draw at home to Chaves last weekend, as their visitors went ahead in the 83rd minute through Issah Abbas, only for Bruno Jordao to level the scores four minutes from time.

Although Os Acoreanos will certainly be pleased to have ended that unenviable run, they will know that draws will not suffice if they are to overcome the odds and climb out of the bottom two, and now sitting six points off the relegation playoff spot and nine points off their visitors with just six games to go, Santa Clara know they will need a run of victories to even stand a small chance of preserving their top-flight status at this stage.

Estoril Praia Primeira Liga form:

L

L

W

L

L

L

Santa Clara Primeira Liga form:

L

L

L

L

L

D

Team News

Estoril Praia will remain without Lucas Africo due to an injury, while they will also be unable to call on midfielder James Lea Siliki, who will serve a one-game suspension after being shown his latest yellow card off the bench in the Benfica defeat.

Cassiano was given the nod to lead the line in that game, although with the Brazilian yet to score this term, Alejandro Marques will be pushing to come back in from the outset after his substitute appearance last time out.

It is winger Tiago Gouveia who has been their key man in attack so far this season, contributing five goals and five assists in the Primeira Liga, and he will return to the starting XI after being ineligible to face parent club Benfica, with Carlos Eduardo likely operating on the other flank.

Santa Clara are without Pierre Sagna, who will serve a suspension for an accumulation of bookings, while Tomas Domingos, Marco Pereira and Xavier Quintilla are sidelined by injuries.

Allano will return to contention, though, and he will likely start on the wing, while Gabriel Silva should play a starting role on the other flank, having netted a team-high tally of five league goals so far this season.

Kyosuke Tagawa will hope to come in and lead the line from the start, after Costinha and Matheus Babi were preferred last weekend, while Bruno Jordao will continue to play a key role in midfield, likely alongside Adriano Firmino.

Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:

Figueira; Santos, Alvaro, Vital, Joaozinho; Gamboa, Carvalho, J. Marques; Eduardo, A. Marques, Gouveia

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Batista; Italo, Nogueira, Boateng; Nanu, Jordao, Firmino, Henrique; Silva, Tagawa, Allano

We say: Estoril Praia 2-0 Santa Clara

Previews by email

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has reportedly not yet made a full recovery from the knock he suffered prior to the international break. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney gives Romeo Montague a run for his money with wife Coleen revealing he writes her love poetry. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six places separate Wolfsburg and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga table ahead of Saturday's gameweek 11 match at the Volkswagen Arena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund have already fallen behind in the title race and will at least aim to stay within touching distance of the Champions League qualifications spots when they welcome Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A crunch clash at the bottom sees Heracles and RKC Waalwijk go head to head at the Asito Stadium on Saturday evening in gameweek 13 of the Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Stuttgart sit a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga table before welcoming cellar-dwelling VfL Bochum in Saturday's gameweek 11 action at the MHPArena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will both be available for Saturday's Premier League away meeting with Everton. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 talksport.com West Ham have sounded out former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic as a potential replacement for Julen Lopetegui, talkSPORT understands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa.