Preview: Santa Clara vs. Boavista - prediction, team news, lineups

Jorge Simao's men, who are without a win in any of their last nine matches across all competitions, will be looking to end this dry spell and begin their surge from the danger zone.

Match preview

Santa Clara failed to steer clear of the danger zone as they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Casa Pia when the sides squared off last weekend.

Following an uneventful first half at the National Sports Center of Jamor, Yuki Soma and Clayton scored on either side of Gabriel Silva's 82nd-minute equaliser to hand the hosts their ninth win of the season.

Consequently, Simao's men have failed to win any of their last nine matches across all competitions, a run which saw them crash out of the Taca da Liga in the group stages after picking up one point from a possible 12.

Santa Clara head into the weekend on a run of one point from their last 15 available in the Primeira Liga, where they are currently 16th in the league table with 14 points from 18 matches.

Os Acoreanos underwhelming campaign has been owing to their lack of cutting-edge at the attacking end of the pitch, where they hold the division's second-worst record with just 12 goals scored so far.

Boavista, on the other hand, moved into the top half of the league standings last time out thanks to a thrilling 4-2 victory over Portimonense at the Estadio do Bessa.

Following a relatively uneventful first half, the game came alive in the second half as goals from Bruno Onyemaechi, Ricardo Mangas and a brace from 29-year-old striker Yusupha Njie condemned Paulo Sergio's side to their 10th league defeat of the season.

Petit's men head into Saturday unbeaten in three of their four outings since the turn of the year — picking up two wins and one draw — with a slender 1-0 loss against Braga on January 14 being the first exception.

Os Axadrezados' recent rejuvenation has seen them rise to ninth place in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with eighth-placed Vizela, albeit with one game in hand.

While Boavista will be looking to pick up successive league wins for the first time since September, they have lost each of their last four away matches in the Portuguese top flight, scoring twice and shipping nine since September's 2-1 win at Arouca.

Santa Clara Primeira Liga form:

W

L

L

D

L

L

Santa Clara form (all competitions):

L

L

L

D

L

L

Boavista Primeira Liga form:

L

L

W

L

D

W

Boavista form (all competitions):

D

L

W

L

D

W

Team News

Santa Clara will take to the pitch without the services of Serbian forward Filip Stevanovic, who is set to sit out his ninth consecutive game through a muscle problem.

He is joined on the club's injury table by 35-year-old goalkeeper Marco Rocha, who has been sidelined since October through a hamstring problem.

Tomas Domingos has been out of action since last May through an ACL injury and the Portuguese international will play no part in Saturday's contest.

As for Boavista, Petit will be unable to call upon 32-year-old defender Filipe Ferreira, who has been sidelined since picking up an injury against Vizela on October 30.

Having missed the game against Portimonense last time out through a one-game suspension, Gaius Makouta is back available for selection and could return to the fold this weekend.

With his brace against Portimonense, Nije has now scored four goals in the last four matches and we expect the Gambian forward to spearhead the Boavista attack once again.

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Batista; Henrique, Boateng, Bobsin, Calila; Costinha, Firmino; Italo, Silva, Tagawa, Allano

Boavista possible starting lineup:

Bracali; Malheiro, Sasso, Abascal; Onyemaechi, Vukotic, Camara, Agra; Perez, Mangas, Njie

We say: Santa Clara 1-1 Boavista

Boavista have hit their stride since the turn of the year and will be looking to keep the juggernaut rolling. However, given their form away from home, Santa Clara will fancy their chances of getting something on Saturday. We predict a thrilling contest in this one, with both sides settling for a share of the spoils.

Previews by email