Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Primeira Liga clash between Famalicao and Estrela Amadora, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Famalicao will be looking to end their run of three consecutive games without a win when they play host to Estrela Amadora at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao in round 26 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday.
Having secured a 1-0 victory in October’s reverse fixture, the Tricolours will head into the weekend looking to do the double over the hosts and pick up their first win on the road since the third week of October.
Match preview
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Famalicao dropped out of the top half of the Primeira Liga standings as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes when the sides squared off last Saturday.
In a one-sided affair at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques, Portuguese forward Jota Silva came up clutch for the hosts as he netted his eighth league goal of the season in the 38th minute to hand them a narrow victory.
Famalicao have now gone three consecutive games without a win, picking up one point from the last nine available since a 2-1 victory over Rio Ave at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao on February 16.
While Joao Pedro Sousa’s men will be looking to find their feet this weekend, recent performances on home turf offer little optimism as they have won just one of their six home games while losing twice and claiming four since the start of December.
Estrela Amadora, on the other hand, picked up three huge points in their battle at the wrong end of the table as they secured a 3-1 victory over Casa Pia at the Estadio Jose Gomes.
Following a relatively uneventful first half, 25-year-old striker Kikas struck twice to put the hosts in a commanding lead and after Yuki Soma pulled one back in the 86th minute, substitute Andre Luiz put the result beyond reach with a 91st-minute effort.
Estrela have now won six of their 25 Primeira Liga matches while losing 12 and claiming seven draws to collect 25 points and sit 13th in the table, two points and three places above Saturday’s hosts and three points above the relegation zone.
While Sergio Vieira’s side will look to secure successive wins for the first time since October and leapfrog Famalicao in the standings, they have struggled to get going away from home, where they are on a four-match losing streak in the league.
Estrela have also failed to taste victory in any of their last nine games on the road across all competitions, losing six and picking up three draws since a 1-0 victory at Vila Mea in the Taca de Portugal on October 21.
However, the Tricolours will draw inspiration from their victory in the reverse fixture, when Luiz netted the only goal of the game in the 74th minute to see off Famalicao 1-0 at the Estadio Jose Gomes on October 29.
Famalicao Primeira Liga form:
Estrela Amadora Primeira Liga form:
Team News
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Red Bull Bragantino loanee Sorriso was forced off injured midway through the game against Vitoria de Guimaraes last time out and is a major doubt for Famalicao.
Should he fail to shake off the injury, 23-year-old forward Theo Fonseca will push for his ninth league start of the season, forming the front three with Florian Danho and Venezuela striker Jhonder Cadiz, who has nine goals under his belt.
Estrela will take to the pitch without the services of 21-year-old midfielder Manuel Keliano, who sustained a slight injury while in action for Angola in the Africa Cup of Nations.
He is joined on the Tricolours’ injury table by 24-year-old striker Gustavo Henrique, who has been out of action since coming off injured against Gil Vicente on January 14.
Off the back of a solid team display against Casa Pia, Vieira could name a similar XI this weekend, with Kikas leading the line and Diogo Fonseca, Miguel Lopes and Kialonda Gaspar forming the back three once again.
Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Mihaj, Riccieli, De Haas; Aguirregabiria, Youssouf, Topic, Moura; Danho, Fonseca, Cadiz
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Brigido; Fonseca, Lopes, Gaspar; Lima, Cordeiro, Souza, Nanu; N’Do, Kikas, Jaba
We say: Famalicao 2-1 Estrela Amadora
Buoyed by their much-needed victory over Casa Pia, Estrela will head into the weekend with renewed belief as they look to steer clear of the danger zone. While Famalicao have suffered a drop-off in form, they boast the firepower needed to get the job done and we see them coming away with a narrow victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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