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

Boavista will be looking to escape the Primeira Liga relegation zone on Tuesday night, when they welcome Nacional to the Estadio do Bessa.

The hosts recently lifted themselves off the foot of the table, and a second win in three matches could see them escape the bottom three, while Nacional will be hoping to increase the gap between themselves and the relegation scrap.

Match preview

Boavista picked up a crucial league win recently, when they beat Portimonense 2-1 away from home.

Ewerton gave the hosts the lead, before Alberth Elis and Paulinho got on the scoresheet to win the game for their side.

Those goals secured Boavista's second Primeira Liga win of the season, seeing them leapfrog Farense and Famalicao, moving up to the relegation playoff place.

Despite remaining in the bottom three, Jesusaldo Ferreira's side now sit just one point adrift of automatic safety, and a win in this game would see them go within one point of Nacional, who currently occupy ninth spot.

However, As Panteras failed to make it two wins on the bounce last time out, when they narrowly lost 2-1 to Gil Vicente.

The sides looked set to play out a 1-1 draw, before Yves Baraye dashed Boavista's hopes with a late goal to snatch all three points for Gil Vicente.

Ferreira will be hoping that his side can bounce back here and secure a crucial win to see them rise out of the bottom three.

However, they take on a Nacional side looking to maintain their position in the top half of the division, and move further clear of the battle at the bottom of the table.

The away side come into this game without a loss in their last three matches, and they will hope to extend their unbeaten run to four with a win at the Estadio do Bessa.

That run has seen them pick up five points from three games, including a 2-1 win over Famalicao, when Bryan Rochez and Francisco Ramos scored second-half goals to complete a comeback and secure a 2-1 win.

That followed an impressive 1-1 draw away at Benfica, when Rochez was again on the scoresheet, firing in the equaliser early in the second half following a Chiquinho goal for As Aguias.

Most recently, Os Alvinegros played out a goalless draw away at Rio Ave, seeing them move up to ninth place in the table, in their first season back in the top flight after promotion from the Segunda Liga.

A win in this game could see Luis Freire's side move level on points with eighth-placed Moreirense depending on how Os Verde e Brancos fare against Farense.

Boavista Primeira Liga form: DDLLWL

Nacional Primeira Liga form: LLLDWD
Nacional form (all competitions): LLLDWD

Team News

Boavista will be without midfielder Miguel Reisinho, who is yet to feature since the turn of the year with a ligament rupture.

However, they will be boosted by the return of defender Chiwodie Awaziem, who served a suspension in their last match after a fifth league yellow card.

His return could see the hosts return back to their favoured system of three centre-backs, with Awaziem expected to join Adil Rami and Cristian Devenish at the back for Boavista.

Nacional are expected to remain without attacker Brayan Riascos, who has been sidelined with a muscle injury for the last three matches, having scored four league goals for his side so far this campaign.

However, with two goals in his last three games, Bryan Rochez will have some confidence coming into this game, when he is likely to lead the line again.

The visitors also added to their attacking ranks in January, bringing in experienced winger Marco Matias on a free transfer, alongside young striker Pedro Mendes, who joined on a loan deal from Primeira Liga leaders Sporting Lisbon on deadline day.

Boavista possible starting lineup:
Leonardo; Rami, Awaziem, Devenish; Cannon, Garcia, Santos, Mangas; Sauer, Gomes, Njie

Nacional possible starting lineup:
Piscitelli; Souza, Henrique, Correia, Vigario; Thill, Ramos, Borges, Azouni, Gorre; Rochez

We say: Boavista 1-1 Nacional

Despite a loss last time out, Boavista will have some renewed confidence after they secured an important win recently. We can see them getting a result against Nacional, who have struggled for goals so far this campaign.

However, we do see Nacional extending their unbeaten run to four matches here, with the two sides splitting the points in a competitive encounter.