Relegation-threatened AVS seek to end a five-match losing streak as they welcome eighth-placed Casa Pia in Saturday's gameweek 30 Primeira Liga contest at Estadio do CD Aves.
Their opponents head to Vila das Aves having won only one of their previous five games and are aiming for maximum points to keep their faint hopes of continental participation alive.
Match preview
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When AVS secured a 1-0 win at Farense at the start of March, Rui Ferreira's side had claimed five points from nine, and the mood was seemingly positive.
Having drawn with Rio Ave (1-1) and Sporting Lisbon (2-2) before defeating Farense, few would have foreseen the five-match losing streak that followed, with AVS failing to score in three of those matches against Arouca (1-0), Porto (2-0) and Estoril (3-0), while conceding four in 4-1 defeats to Famalicao and Braga.
These results indicate that Ferreira's initial improvement upon replacing Daniel Ramos was temporary, and the Vila das Aves outfit, currently in the third-bottom spot, could still face immediate relegation after their maiden top-flight season.
With second-bottom Farense just two points behind AVS heading into this weekend, the third-bottom team could slip into automatic relegation if they lose a sixth consecutive league game and Farense beat cellar-dwelling Boavista.
Having secured only one point from their last four home games, fans at Estadio do CD Aves might reasonably expect more disappointment this weekend.
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For Casa Pia, the season is winding down, with a possible mid-table finish in sight, as indicated by the Lisbon-based club currently sitting eighth in the Liga.
While Joao Pereira's team may drop to ninth after this weekend's matches, securing maximum points could keep their slim European ambitions alive.
Although Casa Pia sit 19 points behind fourth-placed Porto, who occupy the final guaranteed spot for continental football via a high league finish, fifth place might offer a chance at the Conference League qualifying round if Sporting Lisbon and Benfica, both expected to end in the top three, reach the Taca de Portugal final.
This scenario is feasible as both giants hold healthy leads in their domestic cup semi-finals; however, Os Gansos must perform nearly perfectly in the season's final weeks to have a shot at European competition.
Casa Pia enters gameweek 30 eight points shy of Vitoria Guimaraes in fifth, with five games remaining, meaning they must win all their matches and hope for slips from Santa Clara and Famalicao to surpass the three sides above them.
While the possibility appears realistically slim, Pereira's team are motivated heading into the final rounds when they would typically settle for a mid-table finish.
Nonetheless, Os Gansos must rectify their poor away form, which currently includes five winless games, with four losses during this streak, to give themselves a chance.
Team News
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Gerson Rodrigues and Lucas Piazon's involvement for AVS is uncertain, and both will be assessed before Saturday's match.
Two-goal forward Ze Luis is expected to lead the home side's attack, and he could move level with Nene (three) atop the club's goalscoring charts by scoring this weekend.
Jose Fonte will serve a one-match suspension, while Claudio Mendes and Kiki are both sidelined due to injury.
Although nine-goal Cassiano leads Casa Pia's scoring charts, he has netted one fewer match-winning goal than Nuno Moreira (two), who aims to add to his decisive contributions and increase his five-goal tally this season.
AVS possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Tavares, Rodriguez, Devenish, Rodrigues; Grau, Assuncao, Fernandes; Mercado, Luis, Lopes
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Sequeira; Tchamba, Kluivert, Goulart; Larrazabal, Sousa, Mohamed, Lelo; Livolant, Cassiano, Roberto
We say: AVS 1-1 Casa Pia
Saturday's game is hard to predict, given that AVS have lost three of their last four home matches while Casa Pia have earned just one point from their previous away games, suffering four defeats.
Consequently, the spoils could be shared in Vila das Aves on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
