Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria
San Marino

Preview: Gil Vicente vs. Boavista - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 May 2023, 13:37
Gil Vicente will be looking to end an eight-game winless run in the Primeira Liga when they welcome Boavista to the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on Friday.

While the hosts still have work to do to avoid the drop, the visitors are hoping to consolidate their place in the top half of the table.

Match preview

Gil Vicente suffered their fourth successive defeat and their seventh in the last eight matches when they came out on the wrong side of a 3-2 scoreline away against basement club Santa Clara last weekend.

After going three goals down inside the first 51 minutes, the Roosters fought back when Fran Navarro converted from the penalty spot just three minutes before Bilel Aouacheria fired a stunning strike from outside the area into the top corner - his first goal of the season.

However, Daniel Sousa's side were unable to net a late equaliser and they subsequently remain 14th in the Primeira Liga standings, eight points above Maritimo sitting in the relegation playoff position.

Gil Vicente have suffered a significant drop-off from last season's fifth-placed finish and their primary focus is to now maintain their top-flight status that can be guaranteed with a victory on Friday.

The Roosters have only lost one of their last five home meetings with Boavista and they secured a 3-0 victory in their most recent encounter against the Panthers at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos in August 2021.

After losing 1-0 at Porto at the end of April, a result that brought an end to a three-game unbeaten run, Boavista returned to winning ways when they secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Estoril last weekend.

Ricardo Mangas scored the only goal of the game five minutes after half time to help the Panthers secure their third successive home win and their 11th league victory overall this season.

Petit's side currently sit 10th in the Primeira Liga table and remain on course to match or better their highest top-flight finish of eighth place since securing promotion in 2008-09, as they sit just three points behind seventh-placed Chaves, who they face on the final day of the season.

While Boavista have had plenty of success on home soil this season, they have only accumulated 11 of their 40 points on the road, losing 10 of their 15 top-fight away games. Indeed, a 3-1 win at Pacos de Ferreira in February is their only away victory in their last 12 league matches on the road.

Boavista were able to win their last league meeting with Gil Vicente, though, securing a slender 1-0 home success in January courtesy of a first-half goal from Yusupha Njie.

Gil Vicente Primeira Liga form:

D

D

L

L

L

L

Boavista Primeira Liga form:

L

W

D

W

L

W

Team News

Gil Vicente will be without forward Ali Alipour and goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk as they continue to recover from long-term muscle injuries.

Sousa may be tempted to make a few changes to his starting lineup, which could see Kanya Fujimoto start in the No.10 role ahead of Pedro Tiba and Aouacheria operate on the left wing at the expense of Manuel Boselli.

As for Boavista, Masaki Watai is suspended after being sent off for a late tackle in the dying embers of last weekend's win over Estoril, but Njie, Gaius Makouta and Salvador Agra are all available to return after serving suspensions of their own.

Njie, who has scored 12 goals so far this season, will likely come straight back in and replace Robert Bozenik up front, with support provided on the flanks by Mangas and Kenji Gorre.

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:

Andrew; Carraca, Araujo, Fernandes, Marin; Carvalho, Aburjania; Souza, Fujimoto; Aouacheria; Navarro

Boavista possible starting lineup:

Bracali; Malheiro, Cannon, Abascal, Onyemaechi; Makouta, Perez; Mangas, Lourenco, Gorre; Njie

We say: Gil Vicente 0-1 Boavista

A closely-fought contest is set to be played out between the two teams on Friday, but Boavista will be regarded as the slight favourites despite their poor away record and they should have enough quality in the final third to edge past a struggling Gil Vicente side.

Previews by email

Top News

26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale has reportedly ruled out a move to Newcastle United during this summer's transfer window. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Already assured of a place in the Copa Libertadores knockout rounds, Atletico Mineiro welcome Caracas to Arena MRV for their closing Group G fixture on Tuesday evening. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AIK Fotboll are set to host IFK Goteborg at the Friends Arena in Sweden's Allsvenskan on Monday. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk IFK Norrkoping are set to host Varnamo at Nya Parken on Monday in Sweden's Allsvenskan as both hope to avoid a battle for top-flight survival. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The season is over and while the transfer window doesn't technically open until June 14, clubs across the UK and Europe are free to get deals in place ahead of next season. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fenerbahce vs. Istanbulspor (Sunday, 5.00pm) Fenerbahce cling onto their dream of lifting the Turkish Super Lig title as they host Istanbulspor at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Sunday. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Getafe vs. Mallorca (Sunday, 1.00pm) Getafe and Mallorca conclude their respective La Liga campaigns with a showdown at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atalanta vs. Torino (Sunday, 5.00pm) After enjoying their finest hour in Europe, Atalanta BC play the penultimate game of their league season on Sunday, when Torino pay a visit to Bergamo. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al Shabab and Al Fateh bring their 2023-24 Saudi Professional League campaign to an end when they go head to head at the Al Shabab FC Stadium on Monday. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly set to be rival Bayer Leverkusen for the signature of Mainz 05 youngster Brajan Gruda. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erik ten Hag has insisted he will go "somewhere else" to win trophies if he is relieved of his duties as Manchester United manager. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Damac and Al Raed draw the curtain on their respective 2023-24 Saudi Pro League campaigns with a meeting at Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium on Monday. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal reportedly hold the upper hand in the race to sign Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brendan Rodgers has waxed lyrical about Celtic striker Adam Idah after he scored a last-minute winner in the Hoops' 1-0 Scottish Cup final triumph over Old Firm rivals Rangers on Saturday. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kylian Mbappe closed his Paris Saint-Germain chapter with another Coupe de France winners' medal as Luis Enrique's side beat Lyon 2-1 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy to complete a domestic treble. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Toni Kroos waved goodbye to the Santiago Bernabeu in his last appearance at the club's home ground as his 10-year-long stay at Real Madrid draws to a close with a goalless draw against Real Betis. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England Under-17s will attempt to seal a top-two spot in Group D when they face Spain Under-17s in Monday's European Under-17 Championship. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that he got his tactics wrong in his side's 2-1 defeat to rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Portugal Under-17s and France Under-17s will both be looking to secure a place in the European Under-17 Championship knockout rounds when they go head-to-head in Monday's clash in Larnaca. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen became just the sixth team in history to complete a German domestic double thanks to a gritty 1-0 win over Kaiserslautern in the final of the DFB-Pokal at the Olympiastadion. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly preparing to open talks with Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca as a potential replacement for Mauricio Pochettino this summer. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The 2023-24 La Liga season concludes at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Sunday night, as bottom-half strugglers Sevilla host silver medallists Barcelona. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sweden Under-17s will attempt to secure their place in the European Under-17 Championship knockout rounds when they face Italy Under-17s on Monday. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A pair of undefeated sides in the second phase of the Argentine Primera Division campaign will square off on Monday as Union play host to Barracas Central at Estadio 15 de Abril. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Thomas Tuchel has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to replace Erik ten Hag if Manchester United opt to part ways with the Dutchman at the end of the season. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona Women claimed a 2-0 win over Lyon Women at San Mames to lift the Women's Champions League trophy for the third time in their history. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A Spanish court has dismissed bribery charges against Barcelona, ending an investigation into a refereeing corruption scandal involving club president Joan Laporta. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Poland Under-17S and Slovakia Under-17s will both look to seal their place in the European Under-17 Championship quarter-finals when they go head-to-head at the Dasaki Stadium on Monday. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have made history as the first duo of teenagers to score in the same FA Cup final. 25 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made an enquiry about the availability of Chelsea homegrown talent and club captain Conor Gallagher ahead of the summer transfer window.