Santa Clara will face it off with Vizela at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Sunday, with both sides on a run of four consecutive games without a win in the Primeira Liga.
Only two points and two places separate the teams in the bottom half of the league standings, which will make the game a thrilling and nerve-racking one.
Santa Clara found themselves pick up a draw 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.
Mansur and Hidemasa Morita both received their marching orders, in a game where Braga were guilty of a lethargic display in attack as they failed to send in several clear-cut scoring chances.
The Azoreans have now failed to win in any of their last four matches, losing one and picking up three draws since a 2-1 victory over Boavista on February 1.
Nevertheless, they head into Sunday’s fixture unbeaten in each of their last six matches at home, claiming four wins and two draws since a 3-0 defeat against Porto back in November.
Meanwhile, Vizela failed to find their feet last weekend as they had to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw with Portimonense at home.
Vizela have now failed to win in any of their last four matches, claiming two draws and losing two since securing successive wins over Tondela and Vitoria de Guimaraes in January.
Alvaro Pacheco’s side have won five, drawn nine and lost 10 of their 24 games this season to collect 24 points, leaving them 14th in the league standings.
They are now facing 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 the period.
Santa Clara vs Vizela head to head
The two sides have previously met on 13 occasions, where Santa Clara have taken 5 victories while Vizela have won 3, and they have drawn in 5. Vizela have scored 13 goals and conceded 16. In their last five matches, both have won once and they have drawn in three.
Vizela 1-2 Santa Clara 11/04/09
Vizela 0-0 Santa Clara 09/10/16
Santa Clara 0-0 Vizela 26/02/17
Santa Clara 1-3 Vizela 04/09/20
Vizela 1-1 Santa Clara 02/10/21
Santa Clara latest home form
Santa Clara have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have been unbeaten in their six most recent matches. Their last home victory came on November 7 when they lost 3-0 to Porto. In their last five matches, they have scored 9 goals and conceded 6.
Santa Clara 1-0 Vitoria Guimaraes 17/12/21
Santa Clara 3-2 Sporting Lisbon 07/01/22
Santa Clara 202 Tondela 16/01/22
Santa Clara 2-1 Boavista 01/02/22
Santa Clara 1-1 Portimonense 21/02/22
Santa Clara latest away form
Santa Clara have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the way, having failed to win in their four most recent matches. They recently lost 2-1 to Sporting Lisbon in the Taca da Liga. In their last five matches, they have won one, drawn two and lost two.
Moreirense 0-2 Santa Clara 22/01/22
Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Santa Clara 26/01/22
Gil Vicente 2-2 Santa Clara 06/02/22
Benfica 2-1 Santa Clara 12/02/22
Sporting Braga 0-0 Santa Clara 28/02/22
Vizela latest home form
Vizela have recently been on a poor run of form at home, as they have won just one of their six most recent matches. They lost 3-1 to Porto in the Taca de Portugal on January 12. In their last five matches, they have won one, drawn one and lost three.
Vizela 1-3 Porto 12/01/22
Vizela 0-2 Sporting Lisbon 16/01/22
Vizela 3-2 Vitoria Guimaraes 30/01/22
Vizela 0-1 Gil Vicente 13/02/22
Vizela 1-1 Portimonense 27/02/22
Vizela latest away form
Vizela have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, as they have won just two of their seven most recent away matches. They recently managed to defeat Tondela 3-2 in the league. In their last five matches, they have won two, drawn one and lost two.
Arouca 1-4 Vizela 13/12/21
Maritimo 2-0 Vizela 28/12/21
Tondela 2-3 Vizela 22/01/22
Boavista 2-2 Vizela 06/02/22
Pacos Ferreira 2-1 Vizela 19/02/22
Santa Clara news
Santa Clara will be without the services of defender Mansur and midfielder Morita, who both received their marching oders against Braga last time out.
Midfielder Costinha has been sidelined since last August through an Achilles tendon injury, and he is joined by Pierre Sagna after suffering an injury against Sporting Lisbon.
Vizela news
Head coach Pacheco remains unable to call upon the services of Ivanildo Fernandes, who has been out of action since last November through a groin problem.
He is joined on the Vizela injury table by midfielder Raphael Guzzo, who came off injured in the game against Boavista on February 27.
Prediction and Odds
Both sides are on a four-game winless run and we expect them to take the game to each other in search of a much-needed win.
However, Santa Clara have recently put together some good performances at home, and we expect them to have enough to pick up at least a draw.
Odds: 1 2.20 X 2.05 2 2.35
Probable outcomes
Santa Clara 0-0 Vizela
Santa Clara 1-1 Vizela
Santa Clara 2-2 Vizela
Santa Clara 1-0 Vizela
Santa Clara 2-1 Vizela
