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: Estrela Amadora vs. Chaves - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 22 February 2024, 20:00
The action continues in round 23 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as relegation-threatened Estrela Amadora and Chaves go head to head at the Estadio Jose Gomes on Saturday.

With their survival hopes potentially hinging on this result, we anticipate a thrilling contest between the sides who are currently separated by just four points in the danger zone.

Match preview

Estrela Amadora were sent crashing back down to earth in their battle at the bottom end of the table as they fell to a 2-0 loss against Porto when the sides squared off last Saturday.

In a one-sided affair at the Estadio do Dragao, Wanderson Galeno and 24-year-old Joao Mario scored on either side of the half-time break to hand Sergio Vieira's men their 11th league defeat.

This defeat came just eight days after Estrela snapped their run of seven consecutive games without a win courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 victory over Portimonense on home turf.

Making their first Primeira Liga appearance in 15 years, this poor run of results has put the Tricolours' top-flight status under threat as they sit in the relegation playoff spot, level on 21 points with Rio Ave and Estoril Praia.

Next up for Estrela is the challenge of taking on an opposing side who they have failed to get the better of in the previous three encounters between the teams, losing once and claiming one draw since December 2021.

Over in the North, Chaves picked up three huge points in their battle for survival last Saturday when they held firm to see out a 2-1 victory over Boavista at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira.

Despite playing the final 30 minutes with a man down after Carraca picked up a straight red card, Raphael Guzzo and Hector Hernandez scored either side of Bruno Lourenco's 23rd-minute penalty to hand the hosts

This was a much-needed respite for Chaves, who had failed to win their previous nine outings, losing five and picking up four draws while scoring just five goals and conceding 16 in that since the first week of December.

The Flavienses have now picked up four wins in their 22 Primeira Liga matches so far while losing 13 and claiming five draws to collect 17 points and sit 17th in the league table, four points behind Saturday's hosts.

Head coach Joao Teixeira will hope last weekend's result can serve as a springboard for a strong run of form as the Flavienses have their sights on extending their two-year stint in the Portuguese top flight.

While Chaves will look to secure consecutive wins for the first time since October, results on the road offer little optimism as they have failed to win their last eight away games — losing six and claiming two draws — and currently hold the division's poorest away record, having picked up just five points from 11 matches.

Estrela Amadora Primeira Liga form:

D

L

L

L

W

L

Chaves Primeira Liga form:

L

D

D

D

L

W

Team News

Estrela Amadora will take to the pitch without the defensive duo of Miguel Lopes and veteran Brazilian Mansur, who have been sidelined through injuries.

They are joined on the Tricolours' injury table by 24-year-old striker Gustavo Henrique, who has missed the last five matches since coming off injured against Gil Vicente on January 14.

Manuel Keliano sustained a slight injury while in action for Angola in the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations and the 21-year-old midfielder is out of contention for this weekend's hosts.

Chaves will have to cope without experienced defender Carraca, who is set to serve the first of his three-game suspension after picking up a straight red card against Boavista last time out.

In his absence, Cape Verde defender Joao Correia should return to the XI for his 17th start of the season, forming the back three Steven Vitoria and 28-year-old Junior Pius.

On the injury front, the Flavienses remain without the services of 24-year-old defender Habbib Sylla, who has been sidelined since picking up a muscle problem back in October.

Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:

Brigido; Gaspar, Mendes, Lima; Santos, Cordeiro, Souza, Nilton; Jaba, Tavares, Luiz

Chaves possible starting lineup:

Souza; Correia, Vitoria, Pius; Ribeiro, Essugo, Guzzo, Cruz; Nwakali, Hernandez, Batista

We say: Estrela Amadora 2-1 Chaves

Given the stakes of this game, we anticipate an end-to-end affair at the Estadio Jose Gomes with both sides going all out in search of the win. Estrela's home advantage gives them a slight edge here and we fancy them to come away with a narrow victory.

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.