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

Two sides who have struggled to get going in the new season go head-to-head on Saturday as Tondela welcome Famalicao to the Estadio Joao Cardoso.

With just two points separating the sides currently in the lower echelons of the table, the game has all the makings of a thrilling contest as they will both be seeking to get their campaign up and running by claiming all three points.

Match preview

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Tondela were left empty-handed once again as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Braga when they locked horns at the Estadio Municipal de Braga last Monday.

The game was sparked into life late in the second half when Iuri Medeiros and Ricardo Horta scored in a three-minute spell to put Os Arcebispos two goals up, before Renat Dadasov pulled one back in the 86th minute, but Medeiros netted his second of the game four minutes later to make certain of the result.

With three points from the opening six games, Pako Ayestaran's men are currently rooted to the bottom of the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with Belenenses, Famalicao and Moreirense.

Their early struggles has been owing to their frailties in defence as CDT Auriverdes have managed just one clean sheet to date and conceded the third-most goals in the division.

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Famalicao, similarly, failed to find their feet in the Portuguese top flight as they were held to a bore draw at home against Maritimo last Saturday.

Despite controlling proceedings for most of the game, Ivo Vieira's side failed to break the deadlock due to their wasteful display in attack coupled with an inspired Paulo Victor in goal, who made several saves to keep the scores level.

However, the Famalicenses picked up a morale-boosting victory in the Taca da Liga four days later when they thrashed second-tier Penafiel 5-0 in their Group B opener.

Famalicao now return to the league where they are one of three sides yet to taste victory, picking up three draws and losing three of their first six games.

Sunday's visitors will be seeking to end their winless start to the season against an opposing side who they failed to defeat in both home and away fixtures last season.

However, to achieve that, an improvement at the attacking end of the pitch has to be made as they have scored the third-fewest goals amongst all 18 teams in the division so far.

Famalicao follow the game with a home game against Vitoria de Guimaraes, while Tondela take a trip to the Estadio Nacional do Jamor to square off against Belenenses on October 3.

Team News

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Ayestaran will be unable to call upon the services of newly-signed defender Modibo Sagnan, after the Frenchman came off with a muscle injury against Braga last time out.

In his absence, Portuguese defender Ricardo Alves could come into the fold to team up with Manu at the heart of the defence for Tondela.

Jota Goncalves failed to shake off a knee injury in time for the game over the weekend, and the 21-year-old remains a major doubt for CDT Auriverde.

Meanwhile, Famalicao remain without Heriberto Tavares, who continues his spell on the sidelines after picking up a muscle injury back in May.

Vieira fielded his strongest XI in the midweek cup win over Penafiel and, following his side's dominant performance, the Portuguese manager could name an unchanged starting team.

That means we could see the quartet of Simon Banza, Bruno Rodrigues, Ivan Jamie and Ivo Rodrigues handle business at the attacking end of the pitch for the Famalicenses.

Tondela possible starting lineup:
Niasse; Alves, Manu, Khacef; Almeida, Undabarrena, Augusto, Pedro, Borges; Boselli, Dos Anjos

Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Figueiras, Batubinsika, Riccieli, Lima; Pickel, Tavares; I Rodrigues, Jaime, B Rodrigues; Banza

We say: Tondela 1-2 Famalicao

Both Tondela and Famalicao find themselves at the wrong end of the table after underwhelming starts to the season.

Famalicao head into the game on the back of an impressive win in the cup, and we predict they will carry on the momentum from that performance and narrowly steal a win here.