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

Seeking to pick up their first consecutive wins away from home this season, Boavista take a trip to the Estadio Nacional do Jamor to face Belenenses on Saturday.

This will be the second meeting between the sides this season after the spoils were shared in an uneventful goalless draw when they locked horns in October's reverse fixture.

Match preview

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Belenenses snapped their two-match losing streak last Monday when they came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw against fellow relegation battlers Tondela.

In a cagey affair at the Estadio Joao Cardoso, Manu scored in the 32nd minute to put the hosts in front heading into half time before Abel Camara levelled matters in the 63rd minute to force a share of the spoils.

Prior to that, Franclim Carvalho's men fell to a 2-0 defeat at Gil Vicente on February 19 before returning home to lose by the same scoreline against Pacos de Ferreira six days later.

On a run of just one win from their last nine games, where they have lost six and managed just draws, Belenenses will need to change their fortunes sooner rather than later as they face serious risks of dropping to the second tier.

With 16 points from 26 games, O Belem are currently rooted to the bottom of the Primeira Liga standings, four points behind 17th-placed Moreirense and six off Arouca just outside the relegation zone.

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Meanwhile, Boavista failed to make it two wins from two last time out when they had to come from one goal down to salvage a 1-1 draw with Braga.

In a cagey affair at the Estadio do Bessa, Ricardo Horta and Gambian forward Yusupha Njie scored for either side to force a share of the spoils.

This followed a thrilling 3-2 victory over Estoril Praia at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on February 27 which saw their nine-game winless run come to an end.

Boavista head into Saturday's game unbeaten in each of their last five league outings, claiming four draws and one win, and this somewhat impressive run has seen them pull clear of the relegation places.

Petit's men, who boast the most draws in the division so far this season with 14, have won four and lost seven of their 25 games to collect 26 points and sit in 13th place, five points above the relegation playoff spot.

Boavista will fancy their chances against Belenenses at the Estadio Nacional do Jamor, where they are unbeaten in each of their last five visits since 2015, claiming two wins and four draws in that time.

Team News

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Belenenses will take to the pitch without the services of Portuguese youngster Nilton Varela after the 20-year-old defender sustained an injury against Sporting Lisbon on February 2.

While fellow countryman Rafael Camacho made his return from a two-month injury lay-off in the game against Tondela last time out, Thibang Phete remains out of contention through a groin problem.

Meanwhile, Petit will be unable to call upon the services of 31-year-old defender Felipe Ferreira, who is set to sit out his third consecutive game after picking up an injury against Benfica on February 18.

He is joined in the Os Axadrezados injury table by 22-year-old midfielder Miguel Reisinho, who has been out of action since last August through a knee injury.

Belenenses possible starting lineup:
Felipe; Carraca, Danny, Tavares, Calila; Baraye, Sithole, Nuno, Sousa; Safira, Camara

Boavista possible starting lineup:
Bracali; Ferreira, Cannon, Porozo, Abascal, Santos; Makouta, Gorre, Sauer, Perez; Musa

We say: Belenenses 1-2 Boavista

Belenenses have struggled to put together decent performances in the Primeira Liga this season and find themselves rooted to the bottom of the pile. While they will look to begin their charge from the drop zone, next up is an opposing side who are unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions. While we expect Belenenses to put up a fight, we are backing the visitors to come away with all three points, albeit by a slender margin.

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