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

Having secured a 1-0 victory in August's reverse fixture, the Vila Nova will head into the weekend seeking to complete a second league double in three years over the home side.

Match preview

Santa Clara failed to pick up their first win of 2023 as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Arouca when the sides squared off last Saturday.

In a game where Alan Ruiz's 49th-minute strike was enough to separate the sides, a lack of sting in attack was the order of the day for the visitors once again as they failed to threaten the Arouquenses.

Indeed, Santa Clara have now gone five of their last seven games without a goal and currently hold the league's third-worst attacking record with just 14 goals scored so far.

Os Acoreanos head into the weekend without a win in 11 consecutive matches across all competitions, picking up three draws and losing eight games since a 3-1 home victory over Estoril Praia on November 14.

Having secured an impressive seventh-placed finish last season, Jorge Simao's side now face serious threats of relegation and will need a strong second half of the season if they are to avoid returning to the second tier for the first time since 2018.

Santa Clara have picked up three wins, six draws and lost 11 of their 20 matches to collect 15 points and sit 16th in the Primeira Liga table, six points behind Famalicao just outside the danger zone.

Joao Pedro Sousa's men, on the other hand, were denied back-to-back wins for the first time this year as they fell to a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Gil Vicente last Sunday.

Despite being under the cosh for most of the game, Brazilian forward Murilo Souza came up trumps at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao as he scored just his third league goal of the season to hand the Gilistas their third away win of the season.

Prior to that, Famalicao booked their place in the semi-finals of the Taca de Portugal on February 8 when they cruised to a 4-1 victory over Segunda Liga side Belenenses on home soil.

The Vila Nova kicked off the new year with two wins and one draw from their opening four league matches, but they appear to have run out of steam once again, having lost each of their most recent two outings.

While Famalicao will be looking to quickly find their feet and pull clear of the drop zone, they have picked up just five points away from home this season and are currently winless in nine of their last 10 league games on the road, losing seven and claiming two draws since August.

Santa Clara Primeira Liga form:

L

D

L

L

D

L

Famalicao Primeira Liga form:

W

L

D

W

L

L

Famalicao form (all competitions):

L

D

W

L

W

L

Team News

Santa Clara remain without veteran goalkeeper Marco Rocha, who has been sidelined since October through a hamstring injury.

Twenty-four-year-old Ricardinho came off injured in the game against Benfica on January 21 and is set to sit out his fourth consecutive game.

Portuguese defender Tomas Domingos also continued his long road to full fitness after sustaining an ACL injury and will play no part for Santa Clara.

As for Famalicao, Sousa will be unable to call upon the services of 22-year-old forward Theo Fonseca, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in October.

He is joined on the club's injury table by fellow striker Jose Luis Rodriguez, who has been out of action since picking up a knee problem in November.

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Batista; Calila, Boateng, Italo, Henrique; Bobsin, Costinha, Misao; Allano, Gonzalez, Silva

Famalicao possible starting lineup:

Junior; Penetra, Riccieli, Mihaj, Moura; Youssouf, Colombatto; Rodrigues, Jaime, Dobre; Cadiz

We say: Santa Clara 0-1 Famalicao

Santa Clara and Famalicao have both endured a disappointing campaign and find themselves at the wrong end of the table. Unlike the hosts, the Vila Nova have managed a few decent results here and there since the turn of the year and we are backing them to come away with a slender victory on Sunday.

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