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

Looking to avoid a third defeat on the bounce, Portimonense welcome Belenenses to the Estadio Municipal de Portimao in round 11 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday.

The visitors, meanwhile, head into the game on a three-game unbeaten run across all competitions and will be looking to keep the juggernaut rolling and move clear of the relegation places.

Match preview

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Portimonense failed to return to winning ways last Monday when they fell to a humbling 3-0 defeat at the hands of Braga away from home.

In a one-sided affair at the Braga Municipal Stadium, Wenderson Galeno hit a brace to put the hosts two goals up before substitute Mario Gonzalez put the icing on the cake with a 91st-minute strike.

This followed a 2-0 home defeat against Estoril Praia where Andre Franco and Bruno Lourenco scored second-half goals to end their five-game unbeaten run.

This slump in form has seen Paulo Sergio's side drop to sixth place in the Primeira Liga standings, five points adrift of Estoril Praia in the final Conference League spot.

While the Alvinegros will be looking to end this dry spell, they have struggled to get going on home turf this season and boast they league's third-worst record with four points from five games.

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Meanwhile, Belenenses picked up their first win of the season last time out when they saw off Santa Clara 2-1 at the Estadio Nacional do Jamor.

Allano calmly converted from the penalty spot in the 90th minute to cancel out Safira's 42nd-minute opener, but Pedro Nuno netted three minutes later to hand the hosts all three points.

Prior to that, Filipe Candido's men picked up five draws and lost four of their opening nine games, while scoring seven goals and shipping 13 at the opposite end of the pitch.

The win last time out saw O Belem move one point clear of the relegation zone into 14th place in the Primeira Liga standings, level on eight points with Moreirense.

Belenenses head into Saturday's game on a three-game unbeaten run and will feel confident of continuing in the same vein as they take on an opposing side who they are unbeaten against in 11 of the last 13 meetings between the teams, claiming six wins and five draws.

Team News

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Portimonense will take to the pitch without the services of Brazilian midfielder Fabricio, who picked up an injury against Oliveirense in the Taca de Portugal back in October.

Fellow countryman Ewerton is set to miss his sixth straight game after sustaining an injury midway through the 2-1 win over Santa Clara on September 17.

Another name on the club's injury table is Moroccan full-back Achraf Lazaar, who continues his return to full fitness, having also picked up an injury in the aforementioned game.

Meanwhile, Belenenses will be without the services of Sporting Lisbon loanee Rafael Camacho, who picked up a 32nd-minute injury in the cup tie versus Berco on October 16.

Safira returned to the scoresheet in the game against Santa Clara last time out and we expect the Brazilian forward, who has scored three goals this season, to lead the attack once again.

Portimonense possible starting lineup:
Samuel; Moufi, Rocha, Pedrao, Cande; Oliveira, Fernandes, Carlinhos, Boa Morte; Fabricio, Aponza

Belenenses possible starting lineup:
Felipe; Tavares, Danny, Ribeiro; Akas; Varela, Phete, Lukovic, Sousa, Carraca; Safira, Ndour

We say: Portimonense 1-1 Belenenses

After an unconvincing start to the season, which saw them go the first nine games without a win, Belenenses have turned their fortunes around in recent weeks, picking up two wins and one draw from their subsequent three games. Saturday's visitors have been the superior side in the history of this fixture; however, we anticipate an out-of-sorts Portimonense side will take a cautious approach to the game to avoid a third straight defeat and settle for a share of the spoils.

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