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NederlandFresh off the back of an emphatic 5-0 victory in the Taca de Portugal, Estoril Praia welcome Santa Clara to the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Monday.
The visitors, on the other hand, were dumped out of the cup competitions after a humbling defeat at the hands of Braga and will be aiming to quickly put that result behind them and return to winning ways.
Match preview
© Reuters
Estoril Praia secured their place in the fifth round of the Taca de Portugal last weekend when they stormed to a thrilling 5-0 win away to bottom-tier side Serpa.
In a one-sided contest, Leonardo Ruiz and Chiquinho netted in a two-minute spell to put the visitors in a commanding two-goal lead at the end of the first half, and with the second half bringing no changes to the proceedings, Ruiz was at it again with his second of the game before Francisco Geraldes and Andre Clovis scored to cap off a brilliant team performance.
Estoril Praia now return to the Primeira Liga where they have failed to pick up a win in each of their last two matches, playing out successive 1-1 draws against Benfica and Vizela respectively.
Regardless, the newly-promoted side have enjoyed a rather impressive start to their top-flight campaign as they are unbeaten in all but one of their 11 games so far.
With 20 points amassed from an available 33, the Canarinhos are currently fourth in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with Portimonense and only behind the "Big Three" of Porto, Sporting Lisbon and Benfica.
This fine run of results has been owing to their fine performance away from home, where they have picked up four wins and two draws from six games and their superb display at the defensive end of the pitch, where they have shipped just nine goals so far.
In stark contrast, Santa Clara have endured an underwhelming start to the season and find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table after picking up just six points to date.
Os Acoreano were handed a second consecutive league defeat three weeks back when they were beaten 3-0 by high-flying Porto on home turf.
In a one-sided affair at the Estadio de Sao Miguel, Sergio Oliveira broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute before Luis Diaz hit a second-half brace to hand the hosts their seventh loss of the season.
Santa Clara head into Monday's game fresh off the back of a humbling 6-0 defeat at the hands of Braga in the Taca de Portugal which saw their cup dreams come to an end last Saturday.
Nuno Campos's side will feel confident of ending this dire run and turning their fortunes around in the coming game as they take on an opposing side who they are unbeaten against in all but one of their last nine encounters, claiming three wins and five draws in that time.
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Team News
Estoril Praia will take to the pitch without the services of Porto loanee Romario Baro, who came off injured in the Taca de Portugal game against Felgueiras back in October.
Other than that, there are no issues to contend with on the injury front and following his side's dominant performance last time out, we expect Pinheiro to name a similar side in this one.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old forward Costinha will play no part in the game after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury against Moreirense back in August.
He is joined on the Santa Clara injury table by fellow countryman Ruben Oliveira, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a severe injury back in May.
Marco Pereira came off injured midway through the game against Belenenses back in October, meaning second-choice goalkeeper Ricardo could start between the sticks for the third consecutive game.
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Figueira; Soria, Farraresi, Africo, Joaozinho; Loreintz, Gamboa; Franco, Gomes, Lourenco; Ruiz
Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Ricardo; Rodrigues, Afonso, Henrique, Mansur; Carvalho, Morita, Lincoln; Allano, Patric, Costa
We say: Estoril Praia 2-1 Santa Clara
Santa Clara find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table after an underwhelming start to the season which has seen them pick up just six points from the first 33 available. Meanwhile, Estoril Praia have enjoyed a decent start to their top flight campaign and despite their struggles on home turf, we are tipping them to claim all three points in this one.
