Preview: Nacional vs. Boavista

Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Primeira Liga clash between Nacional and Boavista, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two sides separated by just one point in the bottom end of the Primeira Liga standings lock horns as Nacional play host to Boavista at the Estadio da Madeira on Saturday. 

This will be the first meeting between the two teams since February 2021, when the Alvinegros secured a 2-1 victory at the Estadio do Bessa courtesy of a first-half own goal from Nuno Santos.  

Match preview
© Imago

Nacional were sent back down to earth in their surge from the doldrums last time out as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Estrela Amadora when the sides squared off on October 10. 

With nothing separating the sides heading into the final quarter of an hour, Paulo Moreira broke the deadlock at the Estadio Jose Gomes with a 77th-minute strike, nine minutes before Kikas doubled the advantage to make sure of the result. 

Prior to that, Nacional snapped their run of six consecutive games without a win across all competitions on November 4, when they edged out Santa Clara 2-0 on home turf courtesy of goals from Isaac and Ruben Macedo. 

Having returned to the top flight this season, Tiago Margarido’s men have lost six of their 11 matches so far while claiming two wins and two draws to collect eight points and sit 17th in the table, only above rock-bottom Farnese. 

Nacional’s struggles in the big leagues has been owing to their lack of incisiveness at the attacking end of the pitch, where they have netted just six league goals so far — only Farense (5) have a fewer tally. 

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Like this weekend’s hosts, Boavista failed to secure consecutive wins for the first time this season as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Rio Ave at the Estadio do Bessa last time out. 

In a game where both teams finished with 10 men, Clayton struck in the fifth minute to hand the Vilacondenses a first-half lead before Brandon Aguilera sealed the victory with a 75th-minute effort.  

This followed a 2-1 victory over Gil Vicente at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on November 2, a result which saw Os Axadrezados run of five back-to-back games without a win across all competitions come to an end.  

Next up for Cristiano Bacci’s men is the challenge of an opposing side who are unbeaten in nine of the last 11 meetings between the two teams, claiming five wins and four draws since January 2015. 

While Boavista will be looking to bounce back this weekend, they have struggled to impose themselves on their travels, where they have managed just two wins in their last 15 league matches while losing nine and claiming four draws since mid January. 

Nacional Primeira Liga form:

Nacional form (all competitions):

Boavista Primeira Liga form:

Boavista form (all competitions):

Team News
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While Nacional have struggled to make their mark in attack, Margarido should stick with the front three of Arvin Appiah, Nigel Thomas and Brazilian striker Isaac, who has two goals in three starts. 

At the opposite end of the pitch, we should see a back four of Gustavo Garcia, Ze Vitor, Ulisses and Jose Gomes, shielding 28-year-old Lucas Franca between the sticks. 

Meanwhile, Boavista will take to the pitch without Sebastian Perez, who is currently suspended after receiving his marching orders in the game against Rio Ave last time out. 

In his absence, Ibrahima Camara should come into the fold, teaming up with Joel Silva, Ilija Vukotic and Salvador Agra at the centre of the park, while Miguel Reisinho and Robert Bozenik should form the two-man attack once again. 

On the injury front, Os Axadrezados remain without the services of Morales Pires and goalkeeper Joao Goncalves, who have been ruled out through knee problems. 

Nacional possible starting lineup:
Franca; Garcia, Ze Vitor, Ulisses, Gomes; Esteves, Dias, Soumare; Appiah, Isaac, Thomas

Boavista possible starting lineup:
Cesar; Miguel, Abascal, Ferreira, Onyemaechi; Silva, Vukotic, Camara, Agra; Reisinho, Bozenik

We say: Nacional 1-1 Boavista
It has been a difficult start to the campaign for Nacional and Boavista, who find themselves scrambling for points at the wrong end of the table after 11 rounds of matches. 

Boavista’s form on the road has been nothing to write home about this year and we see them struggling at the Estadio da Madeira once again. 

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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