Gameweek 29 in the Primeira Liga will come to an end with a crucial bottom-of-the-table clash as Vizela prepare to do battle with Chaves at Estadio Do Vizela on Monday night.
The hosts are currently second-bottom in the league standings with 21 points after 28 games, while the visitors are at the foot of the table, two points behind their opponents.
Match preview
© Reuters
With six games left to go in the season and six points to safety, the stakes are incredibly high for Vizela, who could be returning to Liga Portugal 2 just three seasons after earning promotion to the top flight.
Vizelenses head into this match off the back of a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Famalicao, who have been steadily improving since parting ways with Joao Pedro Sousa and bringing in former Arouca boss Armando Evangelista.
Fama got off to an excellent start last week, knocking in two goals before the half-time interval. However, Vizela came out in the second half with more intent and levelled proceeding thanks to goals by Jason Lokilo and Sava Petrov, but a share of the spoils was snatched away from them when Jhonder Cadiz hit the back of the net in the dying moments of the match.
That result marked Ruben de la Barrera's side's third defeat in a row and was the eighth loss the new boss has conceded in 14 league games since replacing fellow Spaniard Pablo Villar back in mid-December.
The hosts currently possess the league's worst home record this season, with a meagre 10 points earned in 14 matches at Estadio Do Vizela, with the most recent ending in a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Casa Pia.
© Reuters
Meanwhile, relegation-favourites Chaves have spent the majority of the campaign at the bottom of the table with just four wins in 28 games, though one of those victories came against this opponent in the reverse fixture back in December.
However, following that result, Flavienses suffered three consecutive defeats and failed to win any of their next nine league games (W0 D4 L5) until finally picking up three points against Boavista in mid-February.
Since then, though, Moreno's side have not tasted victory and head into this match winless in their last six games, including a 3-2 loss at home to Portimonense last weekend when they squandered the lead twice in the match and were left empty-handed, with Igor Formiga finding the winner for Marafados in stoppage time.
While Vizela hold the worst home record this season, Chaves have been the worst-performing away side, earning just seven points on their travels all season and winning just once in 14 matches on the road.
Team News
© Reuters
De la Barrera has fielded an unchanged back four in each of their last three matches and is expected to do likewise here with Joao Rodrigo Escoval and Jota Goncalves in central defence, while Tomas Silva and Orest Lebedenko should line up at right and left-back respectively.
Sava Petrov was deployed in a more advanced role to good effect against Famailicao and should retain his spot in attack alongside Samuel Essende and Academia Puerto Cabello loanee Matias Lacava.
Moreno will be without the services of three players here, with South African midfielder Cafu Phete and defensive duo Sandro Cruz and Bruno Rodrigues all ruled out of action due to injury.
Joao Correia came off the bench to score Chaves' second against Portimonense and will be pushing for a start here, while Hector Hernandez should keep his place in attack after converting from the penalty spot last weekend.
Vizela possible starting lineup:
Buntic; Silva, Goncalves, Escoval, Lebedenko; Business, Samu; Petrov, Lokilo, Lacava; Essende
Chaves possible starting lineup:
Moura; Carraca, Nogueira, Fernandes, Pius; Essugo, Sanca, Guimaraes, Guzzo, Benny; Hernandez
We say: Vizela 2-1 Chaves
While both these sides have been incredibly poor over the course of the season, Vizela have to be favoured here owing to this being a home game. They have also found some goalscoring form at Estadio Do Vizela lately, notching up five goals in their last three games, and we feel that they will be able to outscore Chaves, who have failed to find the back of the net in three of their last four on the road.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
