Preview: Santa Clara vs. Gil Vicente - prediction, team news, lineups

In search of their first Primeira Liga win of the season, Santa Clara welcome Gil Vicente to the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday.

The visitors, on the other hand, suffered their first defeat last time out and will head into the game looking to immediately return to winning ways.

Match preview

© Reuters

Santa Clara were denied a place in the inaugural edition of the Conference League courtesy of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Serbian outfit Partizan on Thursday.

Boasting a first-leg 2-1 win in Portugal, Daniel Ramos's men needed at least a draw to seal their place in the group stages, but quickfire goals from Ricardo Gomes and Sinisa Sanicanin helped the Serbians turn the tie on its head.

That unconvincing performance was in keeping with their struggles in the Primeira Liga, where they have managed only one point from their opening three games after suffering a 2-0 defeat against Boavista in their last league outing.

However, they will take solace in their performances on home turf as they are unbeaten in their last 14 matches, dating back to a 1-0 loss against Sporting Braga back in February.

Gil Vicente, meanwhile, failed to make it three wins from three games as they were beaten 2-0 by a high-flying Benfica side last Saturday.

After putting on a valiant defensive display for most of the game, a lapse in concentration in the final six minutes resulted in goals from Lucas Verissimo and Alejandro Grimaldo which maintained Benfica's 100% record in the division.

Prior to that, the Gilistas strolled to a 3-0 victory over Boavista in their Primeira Liga curtain-raiser, before stealing a 1-0 win at Portimonense six days later.

Despite Saturday's defeat, Ricardo Soares will take the positives from his side's resilient display against the 37-time league champions, who were forced to work their socks off for all three points.

Gil Vicente's defensive tenacity has so far played a major role in their solid start to the league campaign, alongside an inspired Stanislav Kritsyuk, who has made 15 saves and kept two clean sheets between the sticks in the opening three games.

Team News

Santa Clara will take to the pitch without the services of Portuguese midfielder Costinha, who came off with a first-half knee injury in the game against Moreirense two Sundays ago.

Cristian Gonzalez is also expected to sit out the game after sustaining an injury that has kept him out of action since January's Taca da Liga qualifier against Farense.

Mohamed Bouldini was handed his first start of the season in last week's loss to Partizan, but after his unconvincing performance, Rui Costa could return to the fold for his fourth consecutive starting appearance.

Meanwhile, 26-year-old midfielder Joao Afonso continues his long journey back to full fitness having sustained an injury in April's league tie against Moreirense.

Antoine Leautey is another name on the Gil Vicente injury list with the Frenchman recuperating from a muscle injury.

Other than that, the visitors head into the game with a clean bill of health and we expect Soares to name an unchanged XI for the third game on the spin.

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Fernandes; Ramos, Afonso, Villanueva, Mansur; Nene, Morita, Carvalho; Patric, Costa, Ricardinho

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Kritsyuk; Talocha, Fernandes, Ferrugem, Carlos; Pedrinho, Carvalho, Fujimoto; Lino, Fran, Aouacheria

We say: Santa Clara 1-1 Gil Vicente

After failing in their bid to make the Conference League, Santa Clara return to the Primeira Liga where they have started their campaign on the back foot. They are one of three teams with less than two points after three games and now face a Gil Vicente side who have been solid at both ends of the pitch.

However, given their recent run of results at home, we predict they will cancel out the efforts of the visitors and force a share of the spoils.