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

The hosts are on 27 points after 24 league games this season, while the visitors are the first side below the dotted line with 18 points over the same period.

Match preview

Gil Vicente will head into Monday night's encounter feeling relatively good about themselves and aiming for a fourth consecutive match without defeat following a 0-0 draw away to Casa Pia last weekend.

While they failed to create many clear-cut chances themselves, Vitor Campelos will likely be quite pleased with his side's defensive performance in the match as they allowed their opponents just four shots on target to register their first clean sheet since the end of January.

Prior to that result, the Gilistas managed to salvage a point against third-placed Porto a week earlier at this venue, with Thomas Luciano finding a last-minute leveller to cancel out Evanilson's opener early in the second half.

At Estadio Cidade de Barcelos this season, Gil Vicente have been very difficult to beat, conceding just two defeats in 12 home games, including just one loss in their last 10, along with five wins and four draws.

Considering the gap between these sides, the hosts will head into this fixture with the confidence of claiming another home win, but they cannot take their opponents for granted, having lost to them 4-2 in the reverse fixture back in October.

However, the issue for Chaves is that while they did get the three points when these sides last met, they have only managed to win two games since then, which was a 2-1 win over Vizela at the start of December and a 2-1 win over Boavista last month.

In addition, three of their four wins this season have come at home, while the only road win they managed was a 2-0 victory over Arouca last year, meaning they head into this encounter winless in their last eight away matches.

That has contributed heavily to Flavienses downfall this season, as they are currently level with bottom club Vizela on 18 points, four behind Estoril in the relegation playoff spot and five from outright safety.

Last week, Flavienses took an early lead in their fixture against Arouquenses, but their defensive frailties became evident soon after as their opponents replied with five goals in the space of 18 minutes, resulting in their biggest home loss of the season.

Undoubtedly, the pressure is piling on Moreno, who has to find a way to get a few big results soon, or his side could be cut adrift well before the final few games of the season.

Gil Vicente Primeira Liga form:

W

L

L

W

D

D

Chaves Primeira Liga form:

D

D

L

W

D

L

Team News

Portuguese defender Kiko Vilas Boas has been out of action since being substituted against Portimonense on January 22, and he has been ruled out for this weekend's fixture as well.

Joining Vilas Boas on the treatment table is Ze Carlos, who has missed the last six matches through injury and Angolan forward Depu, who has been sidelined since October with a muscle strain.

Chaves will be able to welcome back Guima for this trip to Barcelos after the midfielder was forced to sit out their last match against Arouca due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Pedro Pinho is the only listed injury absentee.

The team's top scorer Hector Hernandez was surprisingly left out for last week's match and should return to the starting lineup here, potentially at the expense of Leandro Sanca, who played from the off last time out.

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:

Andrew; Pinto, Pereira, Fernandes, Buta; Tiba, Gbane; de Souza, Neto, Toure; Correia

Chaves possible starting lineup:

Nogueira; Rodrigues, Vitoria, Pius; Correia, Essugo, Guzzo, Guima, Cruz; Jo, Hernandez

We say: Gil Vicente 2-1 Chaves

Gil Vicente are carrying better form into this match and have a solid record at home this season, particularly against teams below them in the league standings. Chaves, on the other hand, have failed to win any of their last eight games on the road, and we feel they will struggle to get get anything from this one.

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