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

Fresh off the back of an emphatic 5-0 win over Moreirense, Famalicao square off against Maritimo at the Estadio do Maritimo in round 23 of the Primeira Liga on Sunday.

O Maior das Ilha, meanwhile, will head into the game seeking to get one over the visitors having failed to win any of the last six meetings between the sides since 2016.

Match preview

© Reuters

Maritimo returned to winning ways in the Primeira Liga last Monday when they comfortably saw off Arouca 3-0 at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca.

Ali Alipour and Joel Tagueu struck in the opening 27 minutes to hand the visitors a first-half advantage before the Iranian forward grabbed his second of the game in the 79th minute to cap off a superb individual performance.

Prior to that, O Maior das Ilha were on a run of three games without a win, claiming two draws and falling to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of league leaders Porto on January 30.

Following a sloppy start to the season, where they managed just one win from their opening 13 games, manager Vasco Seabra will be impressed with his side's turnaround as they currently sit in eighth place in the Primeira Liga standings with 28 points from 22 games.

While they will look to strengthen their position in the top half of the table, next up is an opposing side whom they have failed to defeat in each of the last six meetings between the sides 2016.

© Reuters

Like the hosts, Famalicao turned in a performance of the highest quality as they thrashed Moreirense 5-0 at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao last time out.

The Vila Nova simply ran riot in the first half as Pepe, Simon Banza, Adrian Marin and Joao Carlos Teixeira were all on target before Hajduk Split loanee Ivan Dolcek completed the rout in the 69th minute.

Prior to that, Rui Silva's men were on a four-game winless run, claiming two draws and two defeats, while conceding five goals and scoring just once in that time.

With 20 points from 22 games, Famalicao are currently 14th on the log, level on points with 15th-placed Tondela and one above Moreirense just outside the relegation playoff spot.

While Sunday's visitors will look to make it two wins from two league games, they have now failed to win any of their last five away games, losing three and claiming two draws since a 5-2 win at Boavista back in November.

Team News

© Reuters

Seabra will be unable to call upon the services of Henrique after the Brazilian forward received his marching orders in the game against Arouca last time out.

On the injury front, Swedish forward Tim Soderstrom will play no part for O Maior das Ilha as he continues his spell on the sidelines through a muscle problem.

Veteran midfielder Edgar Costa is also set to sit out his third consecutive game after coming off with an injury in January's game against Porto.

Meanwhile, Famalicao remain without Portuguese forward Heriberto Tavares, who has been out of action since picking up an injury in December's game against Benfica.

Thirty-year-old Diogo Figueira is also out of contention for the Vila Nova after sustaining a muscle problem in the game against Gil Vicente back in December.

On the back of his side's dominant display in the 5-0 victory over Moreirense last time out, Silva could name an unchanged starting lineup on Sunday, meaning we could see Banza, Teixeira and Bruno Rodrigues in attack once again.

Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Victor; Winck, M Costa, Junior, V Costa; Pelagio, Rossi, Guitane, Beltrame; Alipour, Tagueu

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

We say: Maritimo 1-1 Famalicao

Buoyed by their respective wins last time out, Maritimo and Famalicao will head into the game with renewed confidence, making this an exciting matchup. However, we predict they will cancel out each other's efforts and settle for a share of the spoils.

Previews by email