Santa Claravs.Boavista

Os Axadrezados were outclassed by a spirited Benfica side last time out and will head into the weekend looking to secure their first win since narrowly seeing off Casa Pia in the season opener on August 10.

Match preview

Santa Clara added another to their string of impressive results in the 2024-25 campaign as they picked up a 1-0 victory over Estrela Amadora at the Estadio de Sao Miguel last Saturday.

With nothing to separate the two teams in the first half, Brazilian forward Vinicius Lopes came up clutch for the hosts as he broke the deadlock from close range in the 81st minute to hand them a deserved victory.

Santa Clara clinched the Segunda Liga title last term to secure promotion to the top flight, Santa Clara have picked up four wins from their opening six games while scoring 10 goals and keeping two clean sheets.

Os Acoreanos' two defeats this season have come against two of the Portuguese "Big Three" as they were beaten 2-0 by Porto on August 16 before falling to a 4-1 loss against Benfica at the Estadio da Luz on September 14.

This fine start to the season has seen Vasco Matos's men suture into fourth-place in the Primeira Liga standings, level on 12 points with Vitoria de Guimaraes, they could leapfrog second-placed Porto with all three points this weekend.

Boavista, on the other hand, failed to find their feet last Monday as they were condemned to a 3-0 defeat by Benfica when the two sides squared off at the Estadio do Bessa.

Vangelis Pavlidis and Orkun Kokcu scored in a 20-minute spell to put Benfica in a commanding lead heading into half time before substitute Arthur Cabral took advantage of some sloppy defending to put the icing on the cake in the 91st minute.

Cristiano Bacci's men have now failed to taste victory in five consecutive games, losing three and picking up two draws since Miguel Reisinho's 77th-minute penalty inspired them to a 1-0 win over Casa Pia in August's season curtain-raiser.

Boavista, with five points from the first 18 available, will be backing themselves to turn things around this weekend as they take on an opposing side they are unbeaten against in nine of their last 12 encounters, claiming six wins and three draws since December 2008.

However, it is worth noting that Os Axadrezados have struggled to get going on their travels as they head into the weekend on a run of just one win in their last 12 Primeira Liga away matches, losing eight and claiming three since mid January.

Santa Clara Primeira Liga form:

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L

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Boavista Primeira Liga form:

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D

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Team News

Santa Clara remain without experienced defender Pedro Pacheco, who has been out of action since coming off injured in the game against Uniao Leiria back in May.

Lopes has been a standout performer for Os Acoreanos this season and the 25-year-old, who now has four goal contributions, should return to the starting XI this weekend.

The back three of Frederico Venancio. Luis Rocha, Sidney Lima helped Santa Clara to their second clean sheet of the season last time out and could retain their starting roles while Pedro Ferreira and Adriano Firmino should team at the centre of the park once again.

As for Boavista, the goalkeeping duo of Henrique Pires and Joao Goncalves have been ruled out through injuries, meaning 17-year-old Tome Sousa will start between the sticks this weekend.

Miguel Reisinho has missed the last two matches since coming off with a shoulder injury against Estoril Praia in August and the Portuguese midfielder is out of contention for the visitors.

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Batista; Venancio, Rocha, Lima; Calila, Ferreira, Firmino, Nunes; Lopes, Safira, Silva

Boavista possible starting lineup:

Sousa; Gomes, Dabo, Onyemaechi, Ferreira; Vukotic, Camara, Perez; Miguel, Bozenik, Agra

We say: Santa Clara 2-1 Boavista

Boavista have struggled to find their feet this season and now go up against a Santa Clara side who have proven tough to crack so far. Os Axadrezados' form on the road is currently nothing to write home about and we are backing Matos' men to come away with the desired result.

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