Estoril Praia will be looking to open up some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone in the Primeira Liga when they take on Moreirense at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday evening.
The hosts will come into their second league match of 2024 in 12th place in the league standings with 17 points in 16 games, while the visitors are in sixth place with 26 points over the same period.
Match preview
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Estoril spent almost all of last season in the bottom half of the league table, and it looked like they were going to struggle to beat the drop this term after managing just four points from their first nine league matches.
During that time, the Canaries suffered seven defeats, while the only points they managed to secure came in a 2-0 home win over Rio Ave and a 2-2 draw against Vizela back in mid-September.
That run of results saw the side part ways with Alvaro Pacheco after just 85 days in charge, with Vasco Seabra being appointed as the man to navigate the side to safety.
Seabra got his new job started in the worst possible way as his side lost three matches in succession, but since November, the 40-yer-old has managed to spark a notable change in his team's performances as they have now managed to take 13 points from the last 21 on offer and have moved two points clear of Portimonense in the relegation playoff spot.
Estoril saw a three-match unbeaten run at the end of 2023, which included two 4-0 wins and a draw abruptly brought to an end by Sporting Lisbon last weekend when the Lions cruised to a 5-1 victory at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Nevertheless, a loss to the champions-elect is not the worst thing on earth, and the hosts will be looking to bounce back with another solid performance like they managed when they beat this opponent 1-0 at this venue back in May 2022.
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Meanwhile, Moreirense's excellent return to the top flight of the Portuguese football pyramid has been nothing short of remarkable, and the side can likely be forgiven for possibly still fostering hopes of pressuring the teams in the European qualification spots.
The Green and Whites have recorded seven wins, five draws and four losses in 16 league matches this season and currently trail fourth-placed Braga by seven points, while they hold a five-point advantage over Farense in seventh place.
Rui Borges will look back at the latter part of 2023 as a very good period for the side as they managed to end the year unbeaten in 11 league matches, which included seven wins and four draws.
However, they will be looking to get back to winning ways in this match after they were outplayed by a steadily improving Casa Pia in their first match of 2024 and ended on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline last weekend.
Moreirense head into this clash having not lost an away match in their last five outings, but more impressively, they managed to maintain four clean sheets and conceded just one goal away to Gil Vicente in that time.
Team News
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Estoril will have to make do without the services of defender Erick Cabaco, who has been ruled out until at least the end of January with a mildly severe knee injury.
Cassiano and Joao Marques have been in good form in front of goal in recent weeks and should retain their places in the front three alongside French attacker Rafik Guitane.
Moreirense have an almost full roster at their disposal for the upcoming match, barring Wallisson Luiz, who has been flagged as a doubt due to a recurring knee injury.
Andre Luis was given the afternoon off in the side's 4-1 loss to Casa Pia last week, and the striker should return to the starting 11 on Saturday, with Matheus Aias being the most likely to make way.
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Carne; Parra, Alvaro, Vital; Gomes, Holsgrove, Koindredi, Araujo; Marques, Cassiano, Guitane
Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Pinto, Maracas, Marcelo, Amador; Ofori, Franco; Camacho, Alanzinho, Madson; Luis
We say: Estoril Praia 2-1 Moreirense
After a very good first half of the season, it will be interesting to see if Moreirense are able to keep up their excellent form moving forward, and they face a stern test here against an Estoril side that are improving week on week. The Canaries have won each of their last four home league games 4-0, and while we do not expect an equally big margin of victory here, we do feel they will be able to grind out another three points.
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