Gil Vicente welcome Estoril Praia to Estadio Cidade de Barcelos for the opening match of Primeira Liga Matchday 25 on Friday night with kickoff at 23:15.
Gil Vicente have made a strong Primeira Liga campaign this season with the club recording 11 wins, eight draws and five defeats in their 24 matches to collect 41 points which have left them sitting fifth in the standings with 13 points behind the third-placed Benfica.
Vicente head into the match in a good Primeira Liga form having lost none of their last nine league matches, claiming six wins and three draws in the run while have won 12 and drawn five of their last 18 games since late October.
To add to their run Vicente put up a strong and resilient display over the weekend as they held the league leaders Porto to a 1-1 draw at Estadio do Dragao on Sunday. Ricardo Soares’ men managed to hold the rampant Porto at away despite going one man down in the opening three minutes.
The good run of form has seen then increase the gap between themselves and the sixth-placed Guimaraes to 11 points while getting close to fourth-placed Braga. Therefore they will not be worried about losing their European spot, but with 10 matches remaining Vicente will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to increase their chances of securing continental football next term.
Meanwhile Estoril Praia have made a good campaign this season with club claiming 30 points from 24 matches to sit seventh in the Primeira Liga standings with 11 points from the European places, which is impressive for a newly promoted side.
However, Praia seem to have run out of steam with the side claiming just one win in their last 11 matches across all competitions picking up three draws while suffering seven defeats in the run. They are coming off back-to-back league defeats Sporting and Boavista.
As result Estoril now sit three points above the 10th-placed Pacos Ferreira and 10 above the relegation zone. While they will not be worried about being dragged into the relegation dugout a defeat on Friday could leave them in the 10th spot and nine points above the drop zone.
Therefore, Bruno Pinheiro’s men will be looking to bounce back to winning ways and they will draw confidence from their seven match unbeaten run against their hosts.
Vicente vs Estoril head to head
Both sides have met in 20 meeting since 2004 with Estoril claiming eight victories while Vicente have claimed six victories and there have been six draws.
- Estoril 2-2 Vicente 03/10/12
- Estoril 1-1 Vicente 08/03/15
- Estoril 3-0 Vicente 13/01/15
- Vicente 1-1 Estoril 05/10/14
- Vicente 0-0 Estoril 19/04/14
Home
- Porto 1-1 Vicente
- Vicente 2-0 Belenenses
- Vizela 0-1 Vicente
- Vicente 2-2 Santa Clara
- Benfica 1-2 Vicente
Away
- Estoril 2-3 Boavista
- Sporting 3-0 Estoril
- Estoril 1-0 Tondela
- Maritimo 0-0 Estoril
- Estoril 0-0 Pacos Ferreira
Vicente team news
Vicente will be without Joaa Afonso, Murilo de Souza and Ziga Frelih due to injuries while Carvalho will miss out due to suspension.
Estoril team news
Estoril will be without Lucas Africo, Ruben Providence and Rui Fonte due to injuries.
Prediction and odds
- Vicente win
- Draw
- Goals under 2.5
