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

Both these sides will be hoping to get the New Year started on a positive note by bouncing back to winning ways after suffering defeats in their final match of 2023.

Match preview

After making a positive start to the season, which included just one loss in their first seven league games, Famalicao struggled to keep up that level of performance and come into this match winless since just before the November international break.

Fama's last match saw them beaten comfortably by defending champions Benfica 3-0 on the road and extended their winless run to five matches, including three draws and two losses.

That result also highlighted their major issue this season, which has been their attacking output, or lack thereof, having only scored 13 goals in 15 league games so far, which is now the out-and-out lowest tally of any side in the top flight.

Another growing concern for Joao Pedro Sousa is that up until gameweek 11, his side had one of the best defensive records in the league, with just 10 goals conceded, but since then, they have shipped eight in four matches.

Still, the hosts will know that their opponents are in a bad way at the moment and will see this as the perfect opportunity to snap up their current winless run before they enter a very tricky run of fixtures over the next month.

Meanwhile, after just missing out on a European spot last season, Chaves have experienced a massive fall from grace and ended last year languishing at the bottom of the league standings with just 10 points after 15 matches.

Flavienses have managed three wins, one draw and 11 losses so far this term and are now on a three-match losing streak following their 1-0 away loss to Porto on December 29.

That defeat was also the fourth in succession that they have conceded on the road and the seventh in eight away games this season, with just a single victory over Arouca sandwiched in between.

Nevertheless, Moreno's side did win the last match at this venue 2-1 last season, and he will know how important a victory will be for his side's morale as it would likely see them move off the bottom of the table for the first time in a couple of months.

Famalicao Primeira Liga form:

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D

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Chaves Primeira Liga form:

L

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W

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L

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Team News

Famalicao will be without the services of Gustavo Assuncao, who will serve a one-match ban on Sunday due to an accumulation of yellow cards over the first 15 league games this season.

Sousa has maintained a relatively unchanged starting 11 in recent weeks and will likely do the same here, with Jhonder Cadiz leading the line alongside Theo Fonseca, Chiquinho and Gustavo Sa in the number 10 role.

Chaves, on the other hand, have two injury absentees for this match, with Habib Sylla and Sandro Cruz both ruled out due to muscle strains.

Moreno will also have to cope without midfielder Guima and defenders Joao Correia and Bruno Langa, all of whom have been called up for international duty for the next few weeks.

Famalicao possible starting lineup:

Junior; Nathan, Mihaj, Otavio, Moura; Youssouf, Topic; Sa, Chiquinho, Fonseca; Cadiz

Chaves possible starting lineup:

Souza; Nogueira, Vitoria, Rodrigues; Carraca, Machado, Nwakali, Cruz; Sanca, Hernandez, Ribeiro

We say: Famalicao 2-1 Chaves

While Famalicao have failed to win any of their last five matches heading into this one, it is worth noting that two of those games were against Benfica, and another was at home to Porto. The other two matches in that run ended level, and Fama have generally been good at getting results against the sides at the bottom of the league this season.

With two of the worst attacks in the league on display here, this could be a bit of a slow-burner, but we fancy the hosts to come away with the points at the final whistle.

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