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

Moreirense and Belenenses draw the curtain on matchday 21 of the Primeira Liga season with their meeting on Monday in Moreira de Conegos.

The home side are currently in eighth place on the log with 25 points, while their visitors are two places and four points below.

Match preview

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Belenenses ended a run of three consecutive draws with a 2-1 win over Nacional on Saturday at the Estadio Nacional do Jamor.

Tomas Ribeiro gave his side the lead inside the opening half hour, but they were pegged back just before half time by Kenji Gorre's strike.

After a lengthy VAR check, Petit's men were awarded a penalty with 20 minutes left to play, and the spot kick was dispatched by Miguel Cardoso to settle the contest.

Courtesy of that result, Os Azuis do Restelo went not only level on points with their opponents on the day, but also ahead of them on goal difference.

A trip to a ground where they have not won in five years is their next assignment as they aim to continue their surge up the table.

Moreirense were defeated for the first time in four league games as they succumbed to a 1-0 loss against Boavista on Friday.

Vasco Seabra's men came into the game fresh from holding Benfica to a 1-1 draw just five days earlier, but they were unable to build on that result.

Angel Gomes's tidy finish eight minutes into the second half was enough to secure his side's first victory over Os Verdes e Brancos since 2019.

However, Monday's hosts will be facing sides below them in each of the next three gameweeks, so they have a chance to string together a run of positive results.

Moreirense Primeira Liga form: DLWWDL

Belenenses Primeira Liga form: WLDDDW
Belenenses form (all competitions): LLDDDW

Team News

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Tiago Esgaio is suspended for the match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, and this should see Goncalo Silva make his first appearance in three weeks.

Young Tomas Ribeiro has continued to impress, so it is no surprise that he has featured in all but two of his side's league games in the current campaign.

Eduardo Kau and Chima Akas are both yet to play this term as they remain sidelined with knee and ankle injuries respectively.

Pedro Amador and Pedro Nuno both ruptured their cruciate ligaments last year, and they are still a long way from returning to action.

Lazar Rosic was a goalscorer in this fixture last season but he has not scored a league goal at home in his 19 outings since then.

Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Pasinato; Ba, Rosic, Ferraresi; Conte, Soares, Pacheco, D'Alberto; Rodrigues, Santos, Silva

Belenenses possible starting lineup:
Kritsyuk; Ribeiro, Henrique, Silva; Lima, Phete, Sithole, Calila; Varela, Cardoso, Cassierra

We say: Moreirense 2-1 Belenenses

Belenenses have been on the losing end in many of their travels to Moreirense and despite their current unbeaten run, we are backing the home side to come out on top in what should be a fairly even contest.

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