A week after a stunning 3-0 win over Nacional, relegation-threatened Gil Vicente can take another step towards safety when they host bottom-placed Primeira Liga side SC Farense in Saturday's gameweek 31 contest at Estadio Cidade de Barcelos.
Galos have not won back-to-back Liga games since defeating Nacional and Farense in December, and Cesar Peixoto's men aim for a repeat against an opponent in miserable form to move 11 points clear of the visiting side.
Match preview
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While Gil Vicente benefitted from Rui Encarnacao's dismissal last weekend, Galos still needed to capitalise on Nacional's red card to seal a 3-0 victory and snap a two-match losing run.
Following that result, Peixoto's men have now accumulated 29 points after 30 games, strikingly five clear of AVS in the relegation playoff spot and eight ahead of both Boavista and Farense at 21.
The Roosters enter Saturday's contest seeking only their second home victory of 2025 and a first since January's 3-1 win over Porto.
That success over the Portuguese giants has been followed by six consecutive losses at home, including five straight defeats without scoring — against Famalicao (2-0), Santa Clara (1-0), Benfica (3-0), Moreirense (1-0) and Vitoria Guimaraes (1-0).
Having relied on away results to create distance from the dreaded zone, Gil Vicente now hope to end their six-match losing streak at home to nearly secure another season in the top flight.
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Attempting to extend Galos' three-month wait for maximum points at home are Farense, who lost to Boavista in round 30's relegation six-pointer between bottom and second-bottom.
Losing last week's contest 1-0 means the Lions of Faro enter gameweek 31 at the bottom despite their superior goal difference, as they trail on head-to-head points, but the significant worry is the five-point gap from 15th-placed Estrela with four games remaining.
While it remains to be seen if Toze Marreco's men can avoid relegation entirely, catching AVS in the playoff spot might be the realistic target given their results in 2025.
After ending a 13-match winless streak with a 1-0 win at Estrela in gameweek 29, Leoes de Faro could not secure consecutive victories in the Liga, extending their nearly year-long wait.
With no team collecting fewer points (eight) in 2025 and fewer wins since the start of the year (one), Toze's men must present a different version of themselves to achieve consecutive away wins for the first time since October-November 2023.
Team News
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Although Gil Vicente have a nearly healthy squad, Sphephelo Sithole remains sidelined with a ligament issue.
Felix Correia, who leads the Roosters' scoring charts with eight goals, could edge closer to reaching double figures against the division's bottom side.
Having also assisted three goals, Correia's dual threat could be pivotal in securing an eighth win this term.
Farense suffered no new injuries in last weekend's defeat by Boavista, leaving Elves Balde and Marco Moreno, both of whom are dealing with muscle injuries, as the club's only absentees.
Only Tomane (three goals) has scored more than two for the Lions of Faro this term, highlighting the goalscoring troubles for the division's lowest scorers.
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Carlos, Fernandes, Mawesi, Cruz; Caseres, Garcia, Fujimoto; Correia, Aguirre, Bermejo
SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Velho; Pastor, Falcao, Ribeiro, Poloni; Lopes, Neto, Menino, Victor; Tomane, Costa
We say: Gil Vicente 1-1 SC Farense
Gil Vicente will back themselves to finally end their wait for a home goal, given that Farense have conceded two goals or more in four of their last five away games.
However, the Lions of Faro have scored in their last five away fixtures, including netting two in draws at Arouca and Estoril (both 2-2) and a 3-2 loss at title-contending Benfica.
Thus, the spoils could be shared on Saturday, with both sides finding the net in Barcelos.
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