Preview: Boavista vs. Gil Vicente - prediction, team news, lineups

Gil Vicente will be aiming to continue their memorable season when they travel to Estadio do Bessa to face Boavista on Saturday.

The visitors are currently exceeding all expectations, currently sitting in fifth place, while the hosts find themselves in a mid-table position.

Match preview

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Boavista began the new year with a 1-1 home draw against Tondela, which extended their current unbeaten run to four games in all competitions.

The point was secured in the most dramatic of circumstances, when a goalmouth scramble resulted in Jeriel De Santis poking home in the 88th minute to level for Boavista after Salvador Agra had given the visitors the lead.

Although that point leaves Os Axadrezados in tenth place, they are still involved in a relegation fight, with only three points separating themselves and the relegation playoff place.

Petit's side have relied heavily on their home games this season, having collected 14 of their 17 points from home fixtures.

With that in mind, Boavista will be confident of collecting a positive result on Saturday after losing just once at home in the league this term.

As for the visitors, they are enjoying a historic season as they enter the weekend in fifth position having accumulated 26 points this season.

Their impressive campaign has them dreaming of matching their best finish to a Primeira Liga campaign, which was witnessed in the 1999-00 season when they finished fifth.

Although, with half the season left to play, Ricardo Soares will know that his side cannot afford to rest on their laurels as they look to secure a top-five finish that would guarantee them European football.

Last weekend, Gil Vicente survived a late fightback from Vitoria de Guimaraes to claim a 3-2 victory at home after a brace from Fran Navarro and an Antoine Leautey effort had given the hosts a three-goal lead, and despite scoring twice late on Vitoria de Guimaraes were unable to stop the Gilistas from grabbing all three points.

After prevailing on home turf last time out, Gil Vicente will now look to continue their impressive away form, having lost once on the road in the league this season.

Team News

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Boavista are missing Yusupha Njie, who is currently on national duty with Gambia at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nathan returned from suspension to start last weekend's contest with Tondela, and the 20-year-old is set to keep his place in the side for Saturday's encounter.

Having scored five league goals this season, Petar Musa will pose one of the home side's main goal threats.

Meanwhile, Gil Vicente are likely to still be without the services of Joao Afonso and Jean due to injury issues.

Following their victory last weekend, Soares could name an unchanged XI for Saturday's fixture.

Navarro increased his tally for the season to 11 league goals with his brace against Vitoria de Guimaraes, and the forward will be hungry for more, when he starts up front against Boavista.

Boavista possible starting lineup:
Bracali; Cannon, Abascal, Ilori; Nathan, Makouta, Perez, Hamache; Sauer, Ntep, Musa

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Frelih; Ze Carlos, Cunha, Fernandes, Talocha; Fujimoto, Carvalho, Pedrinho; Lino, Murilo, Navarro

We say: Boavista 1-2 Gil Vicente

Boavista represent a tricky opponent for Gil Vicente as the hosts have lost only once at home in the league this term, but this is a Gilistas side that has fared well on their travels this season, and having won three of the last four competitive meetings between the two sides, we think that Gil Vicente will claim another victory on Saturday.

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