AVS will hope to take charge of this two-legged Primeira Liga relegation playoff when they welcome Vizela to Estadio do CD Aves on Saturday evening.
The Vila das Aves outfit were handed this lifeline only by virtue of a favourable head-to-head record against SC Farense, while the visitors finished just a point short of automatic promotion after an intense Liga Portugal 2 campaign.
Match preview
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No strangers to the playoff route, AVS had secured their maiden Primeira Liga appearance through this channel for 2024-25 and will now be desperate to avoid a swift return the very same way.
It has been a taxing debut campaign in the top flight for Jose Mota's men, who were embroiled in relegation trouble for the majority of the season and managed just five wins alongside 12 draws from 34 matches.
Lengthy spells without victories told the tale of a side constantly on the ropes, and although they racked up 17 defeats, their final-day stumble proved inconsequential after Farense also came up short against Santa Clara.
A 3-0 loss on their own turf to Moreirense closed out the regular season on a sour note and stretched AVS's winless run to six games, which hardly inspires confidence ahead of this playoff opener.
However, the Vilas de Aves club may find comfort in the fact that their only previous meeting with Vizela at this ground ended in a 1-0 success in the Taca da Liga, giving them the psychological edge as they attempt to make home advantage count.
While AVS limp into this fixture, the visitors arrive in much brighter spirits, having gone 20 matches unbeaten and picking up 14 victories in that stretch.
Still, a slight dip in their final few games ended up proving costly, with Fábio Pereira's men drawing two of their last five, and despite a 2-1 win over Maritimo on the closing day, Vizela fell just short in the promotion race.
They wrapped up the season with 62 points, only one behind second-placed Alverca, whose perfect run of five straight victories down the stretch left Fabio Pereira's side with no option but to try again through the playoffs.
Having made their top-flight debut in the 2021-22 season, Vizelenses are chasing a swift return after dropping back to the second tier at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Pereira's men will be aiming to lay down a marker in this first leg before returning home for the second instalment on June 1, and their form on the road offers real cause for optimism.
Vizela have won their last seven away matches, notching 15 goals in the process, with just five conceded, and they kept three clean sheets along the way.
Team News
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AVS will have to make do without Kiki Afonso, as the 30-year-old left-back is suspended after receiving a red card in their previous outing.
There is uncertainty over whether Eric Veiga can fill in, with the 28-year-old having missed the last two matches, meaning Rafael Rodrigues should step into that role.
Another likely absentee is Lucas Fernandes, who had just returned to the bench following a three-game spell on the sidelines but was left out of the squad again last time out, casting doubt on his availability.
Vizela also have suspension troubles, with Jean-Pierre Rhyner set to miss out after picking up a stoppage-time red card in their most recent encounter.
Heinz Morschel, who netted his 11th league goal of the 2024-25 season to hand Vizelenses victory in that match, is expected to operate in an advanced midfield trio supporting Vivaldo Semedo, who could once again lead the line.
AVS possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Rodrigues, Roux, Devenish, Fonseca; Assuncao, Grau; Mercado, Piazon, Akinsola; Luis
Vizela possible starting lineup:
Morro; Ramos, Correia, Goncalves, Reis; Y. Semedo, Nascimento; Ntolla, Morschel, Loppy; V. Semedo
We say: AVS 1-0 Vizela
Although AVS have failed to find the net in three of their last four home fixtures, they know this is their chance to seize the initiative in front of their fans, and with a previous win over Vizela in their back pocket, the hosts are backed to grind out a narrow but vital victory.
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Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
