Preview: Boavista vs. Moreirense - prediction, team news, lineups

Fresh off the back of an emphatic 5-1 cup win over Braga, Boavista play host to Moreirense at the Estadio do Bessa XXI in round 15 of the Primeira Liga on Sunday.

The visitors head into this on a six-game winless run in the league and will be aiming to end this dry spell and move out of the relegation places.

Match preview

© Reuters

Boavista maintained their perfect record in the Taca da Liga last Thursday when they eased to a emphatic 5-1 victory over Braga on home turf.

After Gustavo Sauer, Petar Musa and Yusupha Njie put the hosts in a comfortable three-goal lead heading into the break, Nathan Santos and Sauer netted either side of Iuri Medeiros's 53rd-minute penalty cap off a brilliant team performance.

However, Petit's men now return to the Primeira Liga where they are on a run of 11 games without a win, stretching back to August, when they claimed successive victories over Pacos de Ferreira and Santa Clara.

With 12 points from their opening 14 games, Boavista are currently 14th in the Primeira Liga standings, three points and three places above Sunday's visitors.

Their struggles so far has been down to their lack of defensive sturdiness as they have conceded 25 goals to date, and their poor run away from home, where they are yet to pick up a win and boast the division's second worst record with just two points from seven games.

© Reuters

Meanwhile, Moreirense failed to move out of the relegation places last time out as they fell to a slender 1-0 loss at the hands of Portimonense.

In a cagey contest at the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, Portuguese forward Aylton Boa Morte came up trumps for the visitors as he scored the only goal of the game with three minutes remaining on the clock.

Moreirense have now failed to taste victory in any of their most recent six league outings, picking up three draws and losing three since a 2-1 win over Arouca on September 25.

While Lito Vidigal's men will be aiming to end this dry spell, next up is an opposing side who they have failed to defeat in four of the last five meetings between the sides, with a 1-0 win in June 2020 being the only exception.

Team News

© Reuters

Boavista will have to make do with the absence of 22-year-old midfielder Miguel Reisinho, who sustained a knee injury in the game versus Pacos de Ferreira on August 16.

However, they will be boosted by the return of fellow midfielder Gaius Makouta, who has now served his suspension after receiving his marching orders in the draw with Maritimo on December 4.

Following his side's stunning victory over Braga last time out, Petit could name an unchanged starting lineup on Sunday, meaning we could see a front three of Gustavo Sauer, Petar Musa and Yusupha Nije.

Moreirense, meanwhile, will be without the services of the Brazilian midfielder Galego, who has been sidelined through injury.

Godfried Frimpong is also out of contention for the visitors after the Portuguese youngster picked up a severe injury in September's game against Santa Clara.

Boavista possible starting lineup:
Beiranvand; Cannon, Garcia, Abascal; Hamache, Makouta, Santos, Perez; Njie, Musa, Sauer

Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Paulinho, Rosic, Vitoria, Conte; Camara, Pacheco; Walterson, Pires, Yan; Luis

We say: Boavista 1-1 Moreirense

With three points and three places between the sides in the league standings, we expect a close contest on Sunday. Both sides are in similar form and we predict they will take a cautious approach to the game and settle for a share of the spoils.

Previews by email