Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Primeira Liga clash between AVS and Famalicao, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Newly-promoted AVS will be looking to move into the top half of the league standings when they play host to Famalicao at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves on Sunday.
The Vila Nova are currently on their longest winless streak in the league since failing to win seven straight games between March and April 2022, and will head into the weekends looking to end this dry spell.
Match preview
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AVS were denied consecutive wins for the first time this season as they suffered a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Porto when the sides met at Estadio do Desportivo das Aves on Monday.
Summer signing Samu Omorodion continued his red-hot streak in front of goal as he netted a hat-trick to take his tally to seven in six games, with Nico Gonzalez and Rodrigo Mora getting on the scoresheet to cap off a dominant am display.
This followed a 2-0 victory over Campeonato de Portugal outfit Sandinenses on October 20, when Ze Luis and John Mercade found the back of the net in the second half at the Campo Jogos D. Maria Teresa.
Since scraping a 1-0 home victory over Rio Ave on September 14, Vítor Campelos’s men have failed to win any of their subsequent four Primeira Liga matches, losing twice and claiming two draws while conceding nine and scoring just once in that time.
Having gained promotion from the Segunda Liga last term, it has been a decent Primeira Liga debut campaign for AVS, who have picked up nine points from their nine games to sit 12th in the table, level on points with 11th-placed Estoril Praia.
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Elsewhere, Famalicao failed to find their feet in the Primeira Liga as they suffered a 3-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon when they squared off at the Famalicao Municipal Stadium last Saturday.
Following a goalless first half, in-form striker Viktor Gyokeres broke the deadlock with a 57th-minute strike to set Sporting Lisbon on their way before Geovany Quenda and Goncalo Inacio hit the target to cap off a dominant team victory.
Prior to that, Famalicao picked up a dream start to their Taca de Portugal campaign on October 20 when they brushed aside Campeonato de Portugal outfit Lagoa 2-0 courtesy of a second-half brace from Yassir Zabiri.
With last Saturday’s result, Armando Evangelista‘s men have gone six consecutive Primeira Liga outings without a win, losing twice and picking up four draws since kicking off the season with three straight victories against Benfica, Estrela Amadora and Boavista.
Coming off an eighth-placed finish in the league last season, Famalicao have picked up 13 points from their nine outings this term to sit eighth in the table, but could move into sixth-place with all three points this weekend.
AVS Primeira Liga form:
AVS form (all competitions):
Famalicao Primeira Liga form:
Famalicao form (all competitions):
Team News
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AVS remain without the services of 20-year-old goalkeeper Lucas Moura, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines since sustaining a severe shoulder injury back in March.
He is joined on the club’s injury table by veteran forward Nene, who has missed each of the last nine games since coming off injured against Vitoria de Guimaraes on August 25.
As for Famalicao, 23-year-old forward Sorriso will play no part in this weekend’s matchup as he continues his recovery since picking up an injury against Moreirense in September.
The Vila Nova will take to the pitch without the services of Ecuadorian defender Leonardo Realpe, who is also ruled out after sustaining a muscle injury in the cup win over Lagoa on October 20.
Gustavo Sa suffered a game-ending injury in the first half of the game against Sporting Lisbon last Saturday and the teenage midfielder could be replaced by summer signing Mathias De Amorim at the centre of the park.
AVS possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Fonseca, Roux, Devenish, Afonso; Assuncao, Grau; Mercado, Piazon, Akinsola; Ze Luis
Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Zlobin; Calegari, Mihaj, De Haas, Soares; De Amorim, Topic; Dias, Youssouf, Rochinha; Aranda
We say: AVS 0-2 Famalicao
AVS and Famalicao were both on the wrong end of heavy defeats last time out and will head into the weekend looking to bounce back. While home advantage gives Campelos’s men a slight edge, the Vila Nova boasts a superior squad on paper and we are backing them to come away with the desired result.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.