Preview: Vitoria de Guimaraes vs. SC Farense - prediction, team news, lineups

Vitoria de Guimaraes welcome SC Farense to the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques on Wednesday, after the visitors lifted themselves off the foot of the Primeira Liga table last time out.

The hosts will be looking to end a run of three matches without a win, while Farense recorded their first league victory in five games on Saturday.

Match preview

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The home side come into this game having picked up just two points from their last three games, after previously winning three consecutive league matches.

Most recently, the side from Guimaraes fell to a 3-1 defeat at home to Rio Ave, with the visitors leading 2-0 until Ricardo Quaresma pulled a goal back for Joao Henriques 's side, before Gelson Dala immediately restored the away side's two-goal lead.

That result followed two consecutive draws for Henriques's men, firstly holding Benfica to a stalemate, before they drew 1-1 with strugglers Belenenses.

Despite their weak recent form, Wednesday's hosts sit comfortably in sixth spot in the Primeira Liga, six points ahead of seventh-placed Moreirense, with a game in hand on all the sides around them.

Henriques may pay more attention to the teams above them in the division, as his team sit just four points behind fifth-placed Pacos de Ferreira, having played a game less, meaning a win on Wednesday would see them move within one point of the division's top five.

Vitoria's comfortable league position is largely down to their solid defensive record, with only two sides in the top flight conceding fewer than their 17 this season.

They will be looking to return to winning ways at the Estadio D. Afonso Henrique on Wednesday, however that will be no easy task, as they take on a Farense side with some newly-found confidence.

Jorge Costa picked up his first win as Farense manager last time out, when they secured a 3-2 victory away at Nacional.

In a dramatic encounter, Costa's side went two goals ahead through Andre Pinto and Ryan Gauld, before the hosts scored twice to equalise in the final 10 minutes.

It was the second Nacional scorer who made the final impact, as just three minutes after scoring the equaliser, Pedro Mendes turned the ball into his own net to see Farense take home all three points.

That result lifted Os Leoes de Faro off the foot of the table, and out of the relegation zone, with the side from the Algarve now sitting in 15th place, with a game in hand on all three sides below them in the table.

Costa has taken charge of three matches since his appointment as Farense manager, picking up four points thanks to the win over Nacional, as well as a commendable 1-1 draw with eighth-placed Santa Clara on the day of his appointment.

He will be hoping that his side can continue their upturn in form with an away win on Wednesday, which would see them move further away from the bottom three.

Vitoria de Guimaraes Primeira Liga form: WWWDDL

SC Farense Primeira Liga form: WLLDLW

Team News

Vitoria remain without several players, including midfielders Jacob Maddox and Joseph Amoah, who both remain out with injuries.

Experienced right-back Silvio also continues his spell on the sidelines, having picked up a muscle injury in December.

Their attack will be led by Oscar Estupinan, who has been impressive since his first appearance for the club in December, having scored six goals in eight matches.

He will be joined by Ricardo Quaresma, who scored in the loss to Rio Ave, and Ruben Lameiras, who is yet to score for his new club after he arrived from Famalicao in January.

The visitors will be boosted by the return of attacker Brian Mansilla, who served a suspension in the victory over Rio Ave, after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.

He will be joined going forward by Farense's key man Ryan Gauld, who has recorded six goals and four assists in Primeira Liga action this campaign, after firing his side to promotion from the second tier last season.

Their ranks were boosted in the January transfer market, with experienced defender Andre Pinto arriving at the club, alongside exciting young right-back Tomas Tavares, who joined on loan from Benfica.

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:

Varela; Sacko, Fernandes, Mumin, Mensah; Almeida, Edwards, Andre; Lameiras, Estupinan, Quaresma

SC Farense possible starting lineup:

Defendi; Tavares, Pinto, Mancha, Nunes; Oudrhiri, Lucca; Lica, Gauld, Mansilla; Stojiljkovic

We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 2-1 SC Farense

Despite Farense's positive recent result, we can see them falling just short to a Vitoria side who are desperate to get back to winning ways and reduce the distance between themselves and fifth spot.

While the visitors have looked much better going forward recently, we predict that the superior attacking ranks of Henriques's side will see them to a narrow victory over a battling Farense side.

Top tip

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