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

Famalicao welcome Belenenses to the Estadio Municipal 22 de Junho on Friday evening as both sides look to end their recent run of poor form.

The hosts have lost four consecutive league matches in the Primeira Liga, while Petit's men have picked up just two points from a possible nine.

Match preview

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Famalicao have endured a difficult first half of the campaign, picking up 14 points from their 18 outings, to leave them lying in the relegation playoff place.

A 2-0 defeat on the road to Benfica last time out condemned Silas's side to their 10th loss of the campaign and means they have scored just one goal in 360 minutes of top-flight football.

Their recent woes in front of goal have been amplified by their season-long defensive struggles at the back; Famalicao have conceded 32 efforts throughout 2020-21, the highest total in the division.

If Silas's men want to stay up and maintain their Primeira Liga status for next season, then they are going to have to address their leaky defence as soon as possible.

Belenenses are currently sitting in 14th position in the league standings, three points and three places above their upcoming opponents.

The Estadio do Restelo outfit were held to a 1-1 draw by Vitoria de Guimaraes last time out, meaning Petit's side have won just one of their last nine league fixtures.

Scoring goals has been a major issue for Os Azuis do Restelo all season. Their meagre total of nine goals is by far the lowest total in the top flight and is something that needs to change if Belenenses are to stop their current slide down the division.

Petit will be viewing this upcoming clash as the perfect opportunity to transform his side's fortunes, but Silas will be thinking the same thing, and it should make for an intriguing encounter.

Famalicao Primeira Liga form: LWLLLL

Belenenses Primeira Liga form: LLWLDD
Belenenses form (all competitions): LWLLDD

Team News

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Famalicao will be without defensive midfielder Gustavo Assuncao and centre-forward Leonardo Campana after the pair picked up hamstring injuries at the end of last month.

They are joined on the sidelines by teenager Joao Neto and centre-back Srdjan Babic, who is suspended after collecting too many yellow cards.

Long-term absentee Eduardo Kanu is still not yet fit enough to return to first-team action as the 22-year-old continues to recover from a ruptured cruciate ligament.

He is being kept company in the treatment room by left-backs Chima Akas and Nilton Varela.

Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Babic, Queiros, Patrick; Vinagre, Ugarte, P. Rodrigues, Herrera; Tavares, Dias; I. Rodrigues

Belenenses possible starting lineup:
Varela; Mensah, Mumin, Fernandes, Sacko; Pepelu, Wakaso, Almeida; Lameiras, Estupinan, Quaresma

We say: Famalicao 1-1 Belenenses

This should be a tight game between two sides who are desperate to get some points on the board. We fancy them to take home a point apiece, which could be vital in their battles to avoid the drop this season.