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

While Paulo Sergio's men head into the weekend looking to pick up successive wins for the first time since September, the Gilistas set out to snap their five-match winless run.

Match preview

Portimonense picked up three huge points in their battle at the bottom end of the table when they edged out Estoril Praia 1-0 at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota last Friday.

Following a goalless first half, substitute Yago Cariello broke the deadlock barely two minutes after coming on to hand the Canarinhos their eighth defeat in nine matches.

Sergio's side were previously on a run of six consecutive games without a win, picking up just one point from a possible 18 while scoring two goals and shipping eight in that time.

With 30 points from 14 games, Portimonense are currently 14th in the Primeira Liga standings, one point and one place behind Sunday's visitors, and eight points above the danger zone with six games to go.

Gil Vicente, on the other hand, failed to stop the rot as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Braga when the sides squared off at the Estadio Braga Municipal last Sunday.

Portuguese international Ricardo Horta grabbed his 11th league goal of the season in the 30th minute before the hosts turned in a solid defensive performance to see out the win and continue their quest for a Champions League spot.

Gil Vicente have now gone five consecutive games without a win, losing three and claiming two draws since March's 2-0 victory over Maritimo at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos.

While the Gilistas have been defensively solid, their drop-off in form has been owing to their recent struggles at the attacking end of the pitch, where they have scored just one goal since their win over Maritimo.

However, Daniel Sousa's side will be backing themselves to find their feet this weekend as they face a Portimonense side who have lost three of their last four meetings, with a 2-1 victory in November's reverse fixture being the exception.

Portimonense Primeira Liga form:

L

L

L

L

D

W

Gil Vicente Primeira Liga form:

W

L

L

D

D

L

Team News

January signing Park Ji-soo was forced off injured shortly before the hour mark in last Friday's game against Estoril Praia and is a major doubt for Portimonense.

Welinton Junior will sit out this weekend's clash through a one-match suspension after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking in the aforementioned game.

In his absence, Cariello, who has been involved in two goals in the last two games, should be handed his first start since February, forming the front two with Colombian striker Yony Gonzalez.

Meanwhile, Gil Vicente remain without Ali Alipour, who has missed the last eight matches after coming off injured in February's game against Famalicao.

He is joined on the Gilistas injury table by experienced goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk, who has also been sidelined since February through a muscle problem.

Portimonense possible starting lineup:

Nakamura; Pedrao, Alves, Relvas; Moufi, Carlinhos, Moreira, Mauricio, Seck; Cariello, Gonzalez

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:

Andrew; Carraca, Pereira, Fernandes, Marin; Carvalho, Aburjania; Souza, Fujimoto, Marlon; Navarro

We say: Portimonense 1-0 Gil Vicente

With just one point separating Portimonense and Gil Vicente in the league table, we anticipate a thrilling contest at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao as they both push for a top-half finish. We are backing the hosts to carry on their momentum from last week's solid performance against Estoril and claim all three points on Sunday.

Previews by email