Vizela face a mountain to climb in the return leg of their Primeira Liga relegation playoff as they welcome AVS to Estadio do FC Vizela on Sunday evening, hoping to overturn a heavy first-leg deficit.
This will be the first time the Vizelenses are hosting this fixture, with the previous two meetings — including last week's 3-0 defeat — having taken place in Vila das Aves.
Match preview
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Just a week ago, Vizela were hoping to make the most of their maiden appearance in the playoffs, following a solid Liga Portugal 2 campaign that saw them finish just a point shy of the top two.
However, their momentum was brought to a crashing halt by a ruthless AVS side who struck three times in just eight second-half minutes to seize total control of the tie.
Fabio Pereira's side were simply overrun after the break, as Gustavo Assuncao broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute before Tunde Akinsola added a quickfire brace in the 67th and 70th, the result coming as a huge shock for a team that had gone 20 matches unbeaten prior.
The result at Vila das Aves means Vizelenses have now lost the previous two of this fixture, conceding four combined without finding the net.
While Vizela have a three-goal deficit to overturn, their recent attacking output offers little encouragement, having failed to score more than twice in nine of their last ten matches, and the only time Pereira's men hit three during that stretch, they also conceded twice.
The last time Vizelenses recorded a win with a convincing margin was in late April, when they dismantled Mafra and Feirense 4-1 and 5-0, respectively; replicating that level of performance will be crucial if they are to stand any chance of a comeback on Sunday.
AVS, for their part, entered the playoffs under significant pressure after a dismal run of one victory in 10 games to close out their debut Primeira Liga campaign.
Jose Mota's men had struggled for consistency all season and looked vulnerable after a final-day 3-0 defeat to Moreirense, but their first-leg showing has put them within touching distance of survival.
While AVS are firmly in control of the tie, they will be wary of letting their guard down; the Vila das Aves outfit do not boast the most reassuring defensive record, having lost by a margin of three goals or more in five of their last nine outings.
However, if Mota's men can see this through, they will secure their top-flight status via the same route that got them there in the first place — after earning 2-1 victories both home and away against Portimonense in last year's playoff.
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Team News
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There is a high possibility that AVS attacking midfielder Lucas Fernandes and centre-forward Gerson Rodrigues will once again be unavailable for this crucial encounter.
Fernandes has not featured since April 13 and was absent in five of the last six matches, including the most recent two, despite making the bench in the penultimate game.
The same situation applies to Rodrigues, who has missed eight of the last nine games, and although he was named among the substitutes in the fixture before last, he played no part.
Head coach Mota will be unable to lead his side from the touchline after being shown a red card during last week's first-leg contest.
Kiki Afonso returns to the fold after serving a one-match suspension, and the 30-year-old now faces competition from Eric Veiga for the left-back role, especially as Rafael Rodrigues — who impressed in that position — was forced off injured.
Vizela, on the other hand, came through that heavy defeat without picking up any fresh injuries, and they enter this uphill battle with a clean bill of health.
The team is boosted by the return of Jean-Pierre Rhyner, with the 29-year-old defender back in contention after serving a suspension in the previous outing.
With a three-goal deficit to overturn, head coach Pereira may opt for a more aggressive setup, possibly turning to a two-man strike force which could hand Sava Petrov a starting role alongside Vivaldo Semedo in attack.
Vizela possible starting lineup:
Morro; Ramos, Correia, Rhyner, Reis; Ntolla, Nascimento, Loppy; Morschel; V. Semedo, Petrov
AVS possible starting lineup:
Bertelli; Kiki, Texeira, Devenish, Fonseca; Assuncao, Grau; Mercado, Piazon, Akinsola; Luis
We say: Vizela 1-1 AVS (AVS win 4-1 on aggregate)
Vizela have drawn each of their three most recent home matches 1-1, and although AVS have lost five of their last six away games, the hosts may not possess enough firepower to fully capitalise, so a stalemate seems the likeliest outcome.
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Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
