Preview: Tondela vs. Maritimo - prediction, team news, lineups

Seeking to end their run of nine games without a win and move out of the relegation places, Maritimo take a trip to the Estadio Joao Cardoso to square off against Tondela on Sunday.

The hosts, on the other hand, head into the game on a two-game losing streak and will be looking to arrest this slump in form and rise into the top half of the Primeira Liga table.

Match preview

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Tondela failed to return to winning ways in the Primeira Liga as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Arouca at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca last Friday.

Despite seeing over 60% of the ball possession and dominating proceedings, goals in either half from Joao Basso and Andre Bukia were enough to hand the hosts their first win in six games.

Prior to that, CDT Auriverdes saw their three-game winning streak come to an end as they suffered a 3-1 loss against Porto on October 23, when Mehdi Taremi hit three goals to cap off a brilliant individual performance.

Pako Ayestaran's men are now the only side yet to draw a game this season and after picking up just three wins from their opening 10 outings, they find themselves in 14th place, one point above the relegation playoff spot.

This has been owing to a lack of sturdiness at the defensive end of the pitch, where they boast the league's second-worst record with 19 goals conceded to date.

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Maritimo, on the other hand, failed to move out of the relegation places as they were beaten 2-1 by Gil Vicente at the Estadio do Maritimo last time out.

After Kanya Fujimoto and Bruno Xadas scored for either side to end the first half level, Brazilian defender Lucas Cunha came up trumps for the Gilistas as he netted the winner seven minutes after the hour mark.

O Maior das Ilhas have now failed to taste victory in any of their most recent nine outings, picking up four draws and losing five since a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Belenenses in round two of the Primeira Liga back in August.

In that time, Julio Velazquez's side also saw their Taca de Portugal run come to an end on October 17, when they were beaten on penalties by Segunda Liga outfit Varzim following a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes.

Maritimo are currently 17th in the Primeira Liga table, one point above rock-bottom Santa Clara and while they have been decent defensively, a lack of sting up top has played a major role in their struggles as they have netted the third-fewest goals in the division with eight.

Team News

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Ayestaran remains unable to call upon the services of Portuguese youngster Jota Goncalves, who sustained a knee problem in September's defeat against Estoril Praia.

Neto Borges, who has one goal and three assists under his belt this term, is also a doubt for the CDT Auriverdes after coming off injured in the 57th minute against Arouca last time out.

Iker Undabarrena will serve the second of a three-game suspension after receiving a straight red card shortly before the half-hour mark against Porto two Saturdays ago.

Meanwhile, Diogo Mendes is a doubt for Maritimo after the 23-year-old midfielder was hooked off shortly after the hour mark through injury.

Joel Tagueu was handed a 19th-minute cameo against Gil Vicente last time out after recovering from a thigh injury sustained against Braga back in August and the Cameroonian forward will push for his second start of the season.

Tondela possible starting lineup:
Niasse; Borges, Manu, Khacef, Almeida; Bebeto, Augusto, Pedro; Murillo, Agra, Dadasov

Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Victor; China, Leo, Junior, Winck; Rossi, Xadas, Beltrame, Alipour, Vidigal, Costa

We say: Tondela 2-1 Maritimo

Maritimo have endured a horror start to the season and this has been owing to their woeful performances on home turf. While Tondela have suffered a slump in form, they head into the game as the more in-form side and we are tipping them to claim all three points, albeit by a narrow margin.

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