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

Two sides separated by just one point and two places in the Primeira Liga standings face off on Saturday when Boavista play host to Tondela at the Estadio do Bessa.

The hosts will be looking to get one over the visitors after failing to win any of the last five league meetings between the sides since 2018.

Match preview

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Boavista were denied a third consecutive win across all competitions last Wednesday when they played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at Vitoria de Guimaraes.

In an end-to-end affair at the Dom Afonso Henriques, following an uneventful first half, Oscar Estupinan put the hosts ahead in the 81st minute but the visitors replied four minutes later courtesy of Tiago Ilori, who opened his account for the club.

Prior to that, Petit's side maintained their 100% record in Group C of the Taca da Liga when they claimed an emphatic 5-1 win over Braga on December 16 before seeing Moreirense 1-0 three days later.

Despite their recent string of impressive performances, Boavista head into Saturday's game with just one win from their last 13 Primeira Liga outings, picking up seven draws and losing five in that time.

With 16 points from 16 games, Os Axadrezado are currently 11th in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with Vizela and one point behind Pacos de Ferreira in the top half of the table.

While Boavista will look to return to winning ways and strengthen their position on the log, next up is an opposing side whom they have failed to defeat in any of the last five league encounters between the teams, losing twice and sharing the spoils on three different occasions.

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Meanwhile, Tondela returned to winning ways last time out when they fought back from one goal down to edge out Moreirense 2-1 at the Estadio Joao Cardoso.

Brazilian forward Rafael Martins scored for the second straight game to put the visitors in front heading half time, but the hosts rallied in the second half as Daniel dos Anjos restored parity from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute, before Manu scored in the 11th minute of injury time to turn the game on its head.

Prior to that, Pako Ayestaran's men were on a run of four consecutive defeats, conceding 11 goals and scoring two since a 4-2 win over Maritimo on November 11.

Tondela have won five and lost 11 of their 16 games so far to pick up 15 points, which sees them sit in 13th place in the Primeira Liga standings, three points above Moreirense in the relegation playoff spot.

While CDT Auriverdes have been impressive in attack, scoring 21 goals this season, they have struggled to get going at the opposite end of the pitch, where they boast the division's poorest record with 33 goals conceded so far.

Team News

Boavista will take to the pitch without the services of Portuguese youngster Pedro Malheiro, who sustained an injury in November's game against Arouca, while Yusupha Njie has joined up with the Gambian national team for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Veteran defender Javi Garcia is set to sit out his fourth consecutive game through injury, while midfielder Ilija Vukotic will play no part in the game after recently testing positive for COVID-19.

Twenty-two-year-old midfielder Miguel Reisinho continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a severe knee problem back in August, while Nathan Santos is available for selection after serving his suspension.

Tondela, on the other hand, will have to make do with the absence of several key players down the spine of the team after Eduardo Quaresma and Tiago Dantas recently tested positive for COVID-19.

They join the duo of defender Tiago Almeida and midfielder Telmo Arcanjo who are also in isolation after contracting the virus, meaning Bebeto and Ricardo Alves will push for another starting role.

While Portuguese defender Jota Goncalves has made significant progress in his recovery after suffering a ruptured cruciate ligament back in September, he remains unfit to feature for the visitors.

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

Tondela possible starting lineup:
Trigueira; Bebeto, Manu, Sagnan, Borges; Dantas, Undabarrena, Alves; Agra, Barbosa, Anjos

We say: Boavista 2-1 Tondela

With just one point and three places separating the sides in the standings, we expect both sides to take the game to each other and this makes for an exciting matchup. The hosts seem to have found their rhythm in recent weeks and we anticipate they will claim maximum points in this one.

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