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

Both on a run of four consecutive games without a win in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Santa Clara and Vizela go head to head at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday.

With just two points and two places between the sides in the bottom half of the league standings, this game has all the makings of a thrilling and nerve-racking contest.

Match preview

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Santa Clara were involved in a share of the spoils for the second game running last Monday as they held firm to secure a goalless draw with Braga despite finishing the game with nine men.

In a game where Mansur and Hidemasa Morita both received their marching orders, Os Arcebispos were guilty of a lethargic display in attack as they failed to tuck home several clear-cut scoring chances.

Mario Silva'a side have now failed to taste victory in any of their last four outings, losing one and picking up three draws since a 2-1 victory over Boavista on February 1.

However, they head into Sunday's game unbeaten in each of their last six games on home turf, claiming four wins and two draws since a 3-0 loss at the hands of league leaders Porto back in November.

With 26 points from 24 games, Santa Clara are currently 12th in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with Famalicao and two points above Sunday's visitors.

Vizela, on the other hand, failed to find their feet last weekend as they had to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw with Portimonense on home turf.

In a cagey affair at the Estadio do FC Vizela, Brazilian midfielder Willyan Rocha put the Portimao-based side ahead in the 17th minute before Guilherme Schettine restored parity 19 minutes later.

Like Os Acoreanos, Alvaro Pacheco's side have now failed to win any of their last four games, claiming two draws and losing two since picking up successive wins over Tondela and Vitoria de Guimaraes in January.

Vizela have won five, drawn nine and lost 10 of their 24 games this term to collect 24 points and sit in 14th place in the league standings, two points above Tondela in the relegation playoff spot.

While they will be looking to end this dry spell, standing in their way is an opposing side who they have failed to defeat in each of the last five meetings between the sides since 2008, losing two and claiming three draws in that time.

Team News

Santa Clara will take to the pitch without the duo of defender Mansur and midfielder Morita, who both saw red in the game against Braga last time out.

On the injury front, Os Acoreanos will have to make do with the absence of Portuguese midfielder Costinha, who has been sidelined since last August through an Achilles tendon injury.

He is joined on the club's injury table by Pierre Sagna after the 31-year-old defender suffered an injury in the game against Sporting Lisbon back in January.

Meanwhile, Pacheco remains unable to call upon the services of Portuguese defender Ivanildo Fernandes, who has been out of action since last November through a groin problem.

He is joined on the Vizela injury table by 27-year-old midfielder Raphael Guzzo, who came off injured in the game against Boavista on February 27.

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Pereira; Henrique, Tassano, Villanueva, Boateng; Carvalho, Ricardinho; Crysan, Lincoln, Mohebi; Costa

Vizela possible starting lineup:
Silva; Juliao, Anderson, Aidara, Ofori; Claudemir, Samu, Mendez; Cassiano, Bondoso, Moreira

We say: Santa Clara 1-1 Vizela

With Santa Clara and Vizela on a four-game winless run respectively, we expect them to take the game to each other in search of a morale-boosting win. With each of their three encounters ending in draws, we predict another share of the spoils with both sides settling for a point apiece.

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