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

Maritimo will look to stretch their winning run to four league games on Sunday, when they play host to Belenenses.

The visitors sit at the foot of the Primeira Liga table after a defeat to Porto last time out, while Vasco Seabra's side have climbed to ninth spot.

Match preview

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Under the management of Julio Velazquez, Maritimo had a poor start to the Primeira Liga campaign, sitting second-bottom in November, leading to the dismissal of the Spaniard.

The Madeira side opted to replace him with former Moreirense boss Vasco Seabra, and that has proved to be an inspired change so far, with the side winning five of his first seven league games at the helm and only suffering one loss in the process.

While that was a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Benfica, Os Verde-Rubros have bounced back in style, recording three straight victories heading into Saturday as they first handed defeats to Vizela and Portimonense.

Maritimo then faced the tough test of a trip to fifth-placed Braga, and Seabra's men defied the odds to stretch their winning run to three games as Claudio Winck hit the only goal of the game in the 89th minute to see his side take all three points back to Madeira.

As a result of their dramatic improvement, Os Verde-Rubros have quickly climbed away from the relegation zone and up to ninth place in the Portuguese top flight, and they will now go in search of a fourth straight win that could see them climb as high as sixth depending on other results.

They welcome a Belenenses side desperate to get off the bottom of the table after a poor start to the campaign, triggering the departure of former manager Petit with the side sat on just four points and without a victory from the opening eight league outings.

O Belem have since appointed Filipe Candido, but that has not brought about the desired change, with the side still rooted to the foot of the division with just 11 points from their 18 games.

After Abel Camara's 93rd-minute winner sealed a vital 2-1 home victory over Vizela, they will have hoped to push on with a clash against fellow strugglers Famalicao to follow, but they fell to a 1-0 defeat in that outing before being thrashed 4-1 on home soil by Porto last time out.

Candido's men took the lead through Camara, but a hat-trick from Evanilson and a Mehdi Taremi goal altered the game and ensured the title-chasing side left with a dominant win last Sunday.

Now sitting five points adrift of safety, O Belem are tasked with quickly correcting their form to keep their hopes of surviving the drop this season realistic.

Team News

Maritimo are missing Ricardinho, Miguel Silva and Jorge Saenz, with all three sidelined through injuries.

After an impressive away win over Braga, Seabra is not expected to make many changes, with Ali Alipour and Joel Tagueu set to lead the line with Claudio Winck, Matheus Costa, Zainadine Junior and Vitor Costa forming the back four.

Belenenses duo Sphephelo Sithole and Abel Camara will serve suspensions on Sunday, after they were both sent off in the defeat to Porto.

Meanwhile, Rafael Camacho and Francisco Teixeira will remain in the treatment room.

However, Carraca will return to contention after he served a suspension of his own last time out.

Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Victor; Winck, M Costa, Junior, V Costa; Guitane, Beltrame, Mendes, Vidigal; Alipour, Tagueu

Belenenses possible starting lineup:
Felipe; Henriques, Tavares, Ribeiro; Carraca, Lukovic, Cafu, Sousa, Varela; Nuno, Safira

We say: Maritimo 2-0 Belenenses

Looking at the recent trends of the two sides, we can only see Maritimo coming out as comfortable winners on Sunday.

Os Verde-Rubros have taken huge strides under Seabra, and we back them to make it four straight wins against a Belenenses side devoid of any confidence at the foot of the table.

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