Preview: Vizela vs. Belenenses - prediction, team news, lineups

Winless in 10 league matches, Vizela will be looking to get back to winning ways on Monday when they play host to Belenenses.

On the other hand, Belenenses go in search of a much-needed victory which would take them out of the relegation zone.

Match preview

In their last outing, Vizela suffered a 4-1 defeat versus Braga at the Braga Municipal on Tuesday.

A Ricardo Horta brace in the first half left Alvaro Pacheco's men with a mountain to climb, before second-half strikes from Raul Silva and Abel Ruiz put the result beyond doubt.

Having won only one league game this season, conceding 20 goals and scoring just 10, Monday's hosts currently sit 15th on the log, just a point above the relegation zone.

However, Vizela have been a hard nut to crack on home turf this term, losing just one of their six home league games so far.

Belenenses were beaten for the second league game running following a 7-0 defeat to Benfica on Saturday.

In a frenetic first-half at the Estadio Nacional do Jamor, a Darwin Nunez hat-trick and two goals from Haris Seferovic led the assault on Filipe Candido's men.

Like their hosts, Monday's visitors have also won only one game this season and are 17th in the table as things stand.

Aiming to record a third straight victory in this fixture, O Belem will be confident of continuing their already-established dominance.

Team News

Vizela will take to the pitch without the services of veteran goalkeeper Ivo, who sustained an injury in October's Taca de Portugal win over Victoria de Setubal.

Other than that, Pacheco has a full house at his disposal, and the Portuguese manager may name a similar starting XI from last time out.

Belenenses are expected to remain without midfielder Francisco Teixeira and winger Rafael Camacho, as they continue to nurse injuries.

Safira, who has two goals in his six appearances, has missed his side's last three games, and Pedro Nuru will continue to spearhead the attack in the former's absence.

Vizela possible starting lineup:
Charles; Kouao, Aidara, Fernandes, Ofori; Evrard, Guzzo, Samu, Mendez; Bondoso, Cassiano

Belenenses possible starting lineup:
Monteiro; Boni, Henrique, Santos, Calila; Ramalho, Kau, Montez, Lopes; Coelho, Lukovic

We say: Vizela 1-1 Belenenses

As with most games involving two teams at the lower echelons of the table, we expect a tight and cagey encounter with both sides cancelling each other out, giving rise to a share of the spoils.

Previews by email