Preview: Pacos de Ferreira vs. Moreirense - prediction, team news, lineups

Moreirense have eight games remaining to save their Primeira Liga status, currently sitting 17th and two points away from safety after recording just four wins so far.

They travel to the Estadio da Capital do Movel on Sunday, when they will face Pacos de Ferreira, who occupy ninth spot and look set for a mid-table finish this season.

Match preview

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Cesar Peixoto's side bounced back from defeat last time out by securing a tight 1-0 win over 15th-placed Arouca, courtesy of a 33rd-minute strike from Nicolas Gaitan.

Scoring just once in that game comes as no surprise for Pacos de Ferreira, as they have only netted 23 times in 26 matches during this campaign, the lowest total out of the division's top 14 teams.

However, despite finding the back of the net on more occasions at home, Peixoto's side have managed to win one more game on their travels this season, with their home record letting them down this season.

In contrast, the Pacenses won 10 of their 17 matches on their own patch last year, which helped them to a fifth-placed finish, providing the proof that their home form has hindered them this time around.

Sunday's hosts will view this weekend as a good opportunity to improve their record at the Estadio da Capital do Movel, given that Moreirense have only tasted victory once on their travels this year.

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Ricardo Sa Pinto's side are currently on a five-game winless run, which need to be ended soon if they are to climb out of the relegation zone and avoid the drop.

On Monday, Moreirense welcomed title-chasing Sporting Lisbon to their home, where the hosts created chances but eventually lost the game by a 2-0 scoreline, with the visitors proving to be more efficient in the final third.

This weekend's away side have also only managed to find the back of the net 23 times so far, suggesting that this encounter could be a low-scoring affair.

Pinto will be looking for his side to collect maximum points this weekend, but with fixtures against teams around them in the table to come, perhaps a point on Sunday will not be a bad result for the visitors.

These two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the reverse match at the beginning of November, when Lucas Silva's goal was cancelled out by Andre Luis's late leveller for Moreirense.

Team News

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Flavio, Joao Vigario and Jorge Silva will all remain absent from Pacos de Ferreira's squad as they are sidelined with injuries, but the trio could return to full fitness later this month.

The hosts could operate in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and after victory last time out Peixoto may decide to leave his side unchanged, meaning that Denilson will continue to lead the line as a sole striker.

Ze Uilton and Helder are likely to play in the wide positions of the attacking-midfield three, with Nicolas Gaitan playing in the number 10 role looking to add to his two goals in three appearances for his new club.

Moreirense midfielder Fabio Pacheco returned to the starting 11 last time out after serving his one-match suspension for the double yellow card he received at the end of February, and the 33-year-old is likely to start again this weekend.

Pinto will set his team up in a 3-4-3 formation with Walterson, Luis and Yan leading the attack as a forward trio, aiming to add to their 11 goals between them this season.

Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Ferreira; Antunes, Lima, Baixinho, Delgado; Carlos, Santos; Uilton, Gaitan, Helder; Denilson

Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Pasinato; Pablo, Rosic, Jorge; Amador, Pacheco, Jefferson, Paulinho; Yan, Luis, Walterson

We say: Pacos de Ferreira 1-1 Moreirense

Pacos de Ferreira do not have much left to play for this season apart from their own pride, and with a Moreirense side coming to visit with everything to play for, that could give the visitors the upperhand.

With neither side showing free-flowing ability in the final third this season, there is unlikely to be a lot of goals in this encounter, but they are expected to cancel each other out with a goal a piece.

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