Preview: Vitoria de Guimaraes vs. Famalicao - prediction, team news, lineups

Famalicao will look to confirm their safety on Wednesday, when they travel to the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques to take on Vitoria de Guimaraes.

The hosts will look to strengthen their position in sixth spot in the Primeira Liga table with a win on Wednesday, while Famalicao need a single point from their last three games to move out of reach of the automatic drop zone.

Match preview

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Vitoria de Guimaraes picked up a point thanks to a late goal last time out, as they travelled to take on 17th-placed Farense on Thursday.

Diogo Rochinha opened the scoring for Joao Henriques's side in the second minute of the game, but a Pedro Henrique brace quickly turned the game on its head.

The game looked set to finish 2-1, with Vitoria reduced to 10 men as Easah Suliman was sent off in the 51st minute, but experienced winger Ricardo Quaresma popped up with the equaliser to seal a point for the visitors.

That followed a 2-0 home victory over Moreirense, as Andre Amaro and Andre Almeida got on the scoresheet in the first half to secure three crucial points.

Although two games without a defeat is a positive sign for Henriques's side, they have been in a poor run of form since the beginning of March, having lost seven of their last 10 matches in the Portuguese top flight.

Despite that, they have managed to remain in sixth spot, with a win on Wednesday moving them five points ahead of seventh-placed Santa Clara with six points left to play for in the league.

To do that, they will have to defeat a Famalicao side who make the trip with the aim of confirming their survival.

The visitors picked up a crucial victory last time out, as they played host to Santa Clara.

Despite a red card for Santa Clara midfielder Nene in the first half, Fama were unable to break the deadlock for the majority of the encounter until they won a penalty in the 82nd minute, which Ivo Rodrigues converted to seal all three points for Ivo Vieira's side.

That saw them move up to 13th spot, with a four-point gap between themselves and Boavista in the relegation playoff place, while they now sit six points ahead of 17th-placed Farense, who have just two league games left to play.

As a result, Vieira and his side will be on the hunt for a positive result to secure a third consecutive season in the top flight.

Team News

Vitoria de Guimaraes will be without centre-back Easah Suliman, who will serve a suspension after he was shown a red card in the recent draw with Farense.

However, experienced defender Silvio will return to the side to fill the gap left in the back three alongside Andre Amaro and Jorge Fernandes.

Fellow defender Abdul Mumin remains a doubt through injury, while Joseph Amoah and Jacob Maddox will continue their lengthy spells on the sidelines.

While there is plenty of competition for attacking spots, Diogo Rochinha and Ricardo Quaresma are expected to start in the wide areas having both scored last time out.

Both Leonardo Campana and Bruno Jordao are expected to miss out for Famalicao, having been absent from the squad in the victory over Santa Clara.

Club captain Gustavo Assuncao is expected to return to the starting lineup, after he was reduced to a brief cameo off the bench last time out.

Winger Ivo Rodrigues should play a key role in the attack, having scored the winner last time out to take his tally to five goals and an assist from his 11 league appearances since joining the club in January.

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Amaro, Fernandes, Silvio; Sacko, Andre, Pepelu, Mensah; Rochinha, Estupinan, Quaresma

Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Figueiras, Riccieli, Babic, Vinagre; Ugarte, Assuncao; Rodrigues, Jaime, Dias; Anderson

We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 2-1 Famalicao

Vitoria seem to have overcome their poor run of form, and we see them continuing to rebuild with a victory on Wednesday.

If they continue to click as they did in the recent victory over Moreirense, the squad should have more than enough quality to outclass Famalicao on home turf.