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

Still trying to find their feet after what has been a stuttering start to the season, the Flavienses will head into the weekend looking to snap their three-match losing streak and pull clear of the bottom three.

Match preview

Portimonense suffered their heaviest defeat of the season last Saturday as they were hammered 6-1 by Braga when the sides squared off at the Estadio Braga Municipal.

In what was a tale of two halves, Pedrao's 10th-minute strike saw the hosts head into the half-time break in the lead, but goals from Ricardo Horta, Mutassim Al-Musrati, Alvaro Djalo and a late hat-trick from Simon Banza helped Os Arcebispos turn the game around in style.

Prior to that, Portimonense made it two successive wins for the first time since April, beating Colbinha 4-1 in the Taca de Portugal on October 22, one week before scraping a 1-0 victory over Estoril Praia in the Primeira Liga.

With last weekend's result, Paulo Sergio's men have now lost five of their opening 10 league matches while claiming three wins and two draws to collect 11 points and sit 10th in the table, level on points with ninth-placed Estoril Praia.

While Portimonense will look to find their feet on Saturday, they managed just one Primeira Liga home win since May while losing four and picking up one draw in six games at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao.

Chaves, on the other hand, were left empty handed yet again as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against defending champion Benfica at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira last Saturday.

Following a goalless first half, Benfica's dominance and spells of sustained pressure were rewarded in the second half as Fredrik Aursnes and Joao Mario found the back of the net to cap off a one-sided victory.

Chaves have now lost three games on the bounce across all competition, twice in the league and a penalty-shootout defeat at the hands of third-tier CF Canelas which saw them crash out of the Taca de Portugal in the third round on October 22.

This poor run could be pinned to their recent struggles at the attacking end of the pitch, where Joao Teixeira's side have failed to find the back of the net in three successive games, having netted eight goals in the previous three matches preceding that run.

With seven points from 10 matches, Chaves are currently 17th in the league standings, just one point above rock-bottom Arouca but could move level with 12th-placed Gil Vicente with all three points this weekend.

Portimonense Primeira Liga form:

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Portimonense form (all competitions):

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Chaves Primeira Liga form:

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D

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Chaves form (all competitions):

D

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Team News

Portimonense remain without the services of goalkeeper Kusoke Nakamura, who has been out of action since September after picking up a shoulder injury.

Having missed six consecutive games through injury, Luan Campos returned to action in a six-minute cameo against Braga on Saturday and should be named on the bench once again.

Pedrao has scored Portimonense's last two goals in the league and the Brazilian defender should retain his role in the XI, teaming up with Alemao and Filipe Relvas in the back three.

Chaves will take to the pitch without Portuguese midfielder Pedro Pinho, who has missed the last two matches after picking up an injury in the cup game against Canelas back in October.

He is joined on the Flavienses' injury table by 24-year-old defender Habbib Sylla, who has also been out of action since picking up a muscle problem back in October.

Portimonense possible starting lineup:

Silvestre; Pedrao, Alemao, Relvas; Formiga, Carlinhos, Mauricio, Costa; Jasper, Rildo, Varela

Chaves possible starting lineup:

Souza; Rodrigues, Phete, Langa; Nwakali, Sanca, Ribeiro, Cruz; Lameiras, Hernandez, Correia

We say: Portimonense 2-1 Chaves

Fresh off the back of a humiliating defeat against Braga, Portimonense will head into the weekend looking to restore some pride. Sergio's men take on a Chaves side who have lost seven of their eight away matches across all competitions this season and we fancy them coming away with all three points, albeit by the odd goal.

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