Preview: Famalicao vs. Tondela - prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to pick up a third successive Primeira Liga victory since May 2021, Famalicao play host to Tondela at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao on Saturday.

The CTD Auriverdes, on the other hand, head into the game on a run of three consecutive defeats and will be looking to bring an end to this dry spell.

Match preview

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Famalicao picked up successive Primeira Liga victories for the first time this term last Sunday when they edged out Maritimo 1-0 at the Estadio do Maritimo.

In a game where Claudio Winck received his marching orders, Simon Banza struck just seven minutes into the game before goalkeeper Luiz Junior denied Joel Tagueu from the penalty spot in the 45th minute to keep the lead intact.

Prior to that, the Vila Nova claimed an emphatic 5-0 victory over Moreirense on February 13, when Pepe, Banza, Adrian Marin, Joao Carlos Teixeira and Ivan Dolcek were all on target to end their four-game winless run.

After a slow start to the season, where they failed to win any of their opening eight games, Rui Silva will be impressed with his side's turnaround in recent weeks as they head into Saturday's game unbeaten in seven of their last nine outings.

With 23 points from 23 games, Famalicao are currently 12th in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with Vizela and three points above Saturday's visitors in the relegation playoff spot.

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Meanwhile, despite their resilient display, Tondela were left empty-handed once again as they fell to a slender 1-0 defeat at the hands of Braga last weekend.

Off the back of an uneventful first half at the Estadio Joao Cardoso, the game sparked to life shortly before the hour mark as Portuguese forward Ricardo Horta struck the only goal of the game in the 57th minute.

Tondela have now lost each of their most recent three games, conceding five goals and scoring once in that time, while they have managed just one win from their last seven league outings.

The CTD Auriverdes' struggles this season has been in no small part owing to their defensive frailties as they boast the division's worst defensive record with 45 goals conceded in 23 games so far.

However, they will fancy their chances of ending their losing streak this weekend as next up is an opposing side who they went unbeaten against in each of the three encounters between the teams last year, picking up two wins and one draw.

Team News

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Famalicao will take to the pitch without the services of Diogo Figueira, who has been out of action since sustaining a muscle problem in the game against Gil Vicente back in December.

He is joined on the Vila Nova injury table by Portuguese forward Heriberto Tavares, who also picked up an injury in December's game against Benfica.

After watching his side pick up their first successive league victory last time out, Silva should stick to his new-found winning formula and could name an unchanged XI, meaning we could see Banza, Joao Carlos Teixeira and Bruno Rodrigues in attack for the third game running.

Meanwhile, Pako Ayestaran will be unable to call upon the services of Italian midfielder Simone Muratore, who has been sidelined since picking up an injury in October's game against Belenenses.

Tondela will also have to make do without Jota Goncalves as the Portuguese defender continues his long journey to full fitness after suffering a severe knee injury last September.

Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Nascimento, Penetra, Ricceli, Marin; Pepe, Assuncao, I Rodrigues; Teixeira, B Rodrigues; Banza

Tondela possible starting lineup:
Trigueira; Almeida, Quaresma, Alves, Khacef; Undabarrena, Augusto; Boselli, Barbosa, Agra; Anjos

We say: Famalicao 2-0 Tondela

After a sloppy start to the season, Famalicao have turned things around in the past two weeks and will be looking to maintain this form. They face an out-of-sorts Tondela side who have lost each of their last three games and we fancy the Vila Nova will pick up their third successive victory.

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