Preview: Pacos de Ferreira vs. Maritimo - prediction, team news, lineups

Pacos de Ferreira can secure a top-five finish and a spot in the new UEFA Conference League with a win at home to Maritimo in the Primeira Liga on Sunday.

The visitors are currently sitting 13th in the league but are still not safe from relegation with three games to go and so will be wanting a win to increase their chances of survival.

Match preview

© Reuters

Pacos de Ferreira are seven points clear of sixth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes, meaning they are set to finish in their highest position in Portugal's top flight since their third-placed finish in 2012-13.

After a very good start to the season, they would have been dreaming of finishing third again but four straight defeats - conceding 11 goals and failing to score - at the start of April ended their hopes of finishing above Benfica.

Since this poor run, they are now unbeaten in their last three, including a 1-1 draw away to fourth-placed Braga last time out, meaning the Beavers can no longer finish above Braga.

Joao Pedro's first-half strike for Pacos de Ferreira was cancelled out by a late penalty scored by substitute Wenderson Galeno.

The Beavers won this season's previous tie against Maritimo convincingly with a 3-0 victory in January, which started a run of seven defeats for their opponents resulting in Maritimo appointing their third manager of the season.

Since Julio Velazquez took charge, he has managed to steer his side from bottom of the table to four points clear of the relegation playoff spot, with five wins in the nine matches since his appointment.

The new manager has brought about successful results by ensuring their defence is more solid, leading to six of their last seven games ending 1-0 - four of which they won.

Last time out, Maritimo were on the receiving end of a 1-0 victory at home to Gil Vicente through a Samuel Lino first-half goal.

With a home tie against Vitoria de Guimaraes, followed by their last game of the season away to league leaders Sporting Lisbon, Velazquez will be desperate to gain some points on Sunday to guarantee survival instead of leaving it to a nervy end to the season.

However, earning any points away to Pacos de Ferreira on the weekend will be a very tough ask, considering they have only won once in their last 15 travels to the Estadio da Mata Real.

Team News

The home side are boosted by the return from suspension of full-back Fernando Fonseca and winger Helder Ferreira, meaning Jorge Silva and Joao Amaral are likely to be dropped to the bench.

After scoring two goals in his last two games, Pedro will be optimistic of another start ahead of Pacos de Ferreira's top-scorer Douglas Tanque.

Sassa, Stefano Beltrame and Rodrigo Pinho are all close to a return from injury for Maritimo, with the latter two possibly able to make the bench this weekend.

Marcelo Hermes may drop to the bench on Sunday having been replaced at half time, with either Franck-Yves Bambock or Jorge Correa likely to replace him.

Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Jordi; Rebocho, Marcelo, Maracas, Fonseca; Costa, Eustaquio, Carlos; Singh, Pedro, Ferreira

Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Abedzadeh; Rene, Junior, Andrade; Winck, Guitane, Pelagio, Bambock, Costa; Joel, Alipour

We say: Pacos de Ferreira 0-0 Maritimo

Both teams have witnessed very low scoring games of late with there not being more than two goals scored in the hosts' last five games and the visitors' last seven.

We therefore expect another uneventful affair in front goal, with the two sides playing out a stalemate.