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

Moreirense will look to improve their standing at the bottom end of the Primeira Liga table on Friday, when they welcome Gil Vicente to the Parque Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.

The hosts currently sit 15th in the top flight, level on points with Belenenses in the bottom three, while their visitors climbed back up to eighth recently after a previous slump.

Match preview

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Having won just one of their 11 league games so far this season, Moreirense sit worryingly close to the Primeira Liga relegation zone.

After a winless start to the campaign left them in the drop zone with just three points from their first six outings, Joao Henriques's side managed to put their first victory on the board at the seventh time of asking, defeating Arouca 2-1 thanks to goals from Walterson and Andre Luis.

They have struggled to build on that though, failing to beat strugglers Maritimo before being understandably defeated by defending champions Sporting Lisbon.

After salvaging a draw against an out-of-sorts Pacos de Ferreira side, Os Verdes e Brancos fell to their fifth league defeat of the season in their most recent top-flight outing, as Felipe Pires's late goal was not enough to salvage a result against Vitoria de Guimaraes, but Moreirense may have regained a degree of confidence after a cup win over the same opponents last time out.

A Yan brace and a Steven Vitoria goal saw them lead 3-0, and they would eventually hold on for a 3-2 win, with Henriques hoping that victory inspires a turn in fortunes in the league to see them climb away from the bottom three.

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After kicking off the league campaign with consecutive wins, Gil Vicente had to endure a seven-game winless run in the Portuguese top flight, triggering a quick drop into the bottom half.

They then managed to put an important victory on the board at the end of October, as Kanya Fujimoto and Lucas Cunha got on the scoresheet either side of Xadas's equaliser in a 2-1 win away at Maritimo.

Os GIlistas then met 11th-placed Arouca prior to the international break, and a Fran Navarro equaliser saw them force a share of the spoils after Arsenio's early opener.

Upon their return to action, Ricardo Soares's side travelled to fourth-tier Leca in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal, and they were dumped out after a shock 1-0 defeat.

Following that disappointment, they will now turn their attention back to the league and focus on putting another notch in the wins column to strengthen their position in the top half this weekend.

Team News

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Moreirense do not have many injury issues to manage, as defender Godfried Frimpong is expected to be the only man to miss out.

Andre Luis will battle to lead the line, having hit five goals in 11 league games this term, but he will have to dispossess Rafael Martins, who has built a formidable attacking relationship with Yan in the last year.

Captain Lazar Rosic will continue to general the back four alongside Steven Vitoria, shielding goalkeeper Kewin, who has recently been preferred to Mateus Pasinato.

Gil Vicente will likely remain without Joao Afonso through injury, although winger Murilo de Souza returned to fitness for the recent cup clash with Leca.

Fran Navarro will again lead the line after his equaliser in the last league outing, while Samuel Lino offers quality on the wing and Kanya Fujimoto will support the front three from midfield.

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

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

We say: Moreirense 1-1 Gil Vicente

Moreirense have shown signs of improvement recently, and, with the confidence boost of a cup win over Vitoria, we back them to get a result on Friday.

While we do not see the hosts taking all three points, Gil Vicente will be wounded from their shock cup exit, and we see them being held to a draw on their travels.

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