Boavista welcome Maritimo to the Estadio do Bessa on Sunday in a crucial game at the bottom of the Primeira Liga table.

Maritimo currently occupy the relegation playoff place, just two points above the drop zone, while the visitors sit in 15th spot, with one point between themselves and Sunday's opponents in the bottom three.

Match preview

Boavista suffered a narrow defeat last time out, as they travelled to fourth-placed Braga.

Sebastian Perez put the visitors ahead on the 30-minute mark, but Fransergio equalised on the stroke of half time for Os Arcebispos, and Boavista's task was made even tougher when centre-back Jackson Porozo was shown a red card early in the second half.

Despite that, Jesualdo Ferreira's side looked set to hold on for an impressive point, until Andraz Sporar popped up with the winning goal in the final 10 minutes to send As Panteras home empty-handed.

That put an end to a promising run for the side from Porto, as they picked up seven points from the three previous matches.

Included in that run was an impressive 2-0 victory over fifth-placed Pacos de Ferreira, as Yusupha Njie and Angel Gomes got on the scoresheet to seal a sixth league win of the season for Os Axadrezados.

As a result, Ferreira's men managed to lift themselves out of the relegation zone, now sitting in 15th spot, although they are by no means safe at this stage.

A win on Sunday would see that gap increase to a slightly more comfortable tally, while a defeat would quickly drag As Panteras back into the bottom three.

They take on a Maritimo side who will also desperate to boost their survival bid with what would be a crucial victory.

Julio Velazquez's side recorded an important win over Rio Ave last time out, as Diederrick Joel Tagueu netted the only goal of the game after 12 minutes to seal their eighth league win of the campaign.

Velazquez was brought into the club to replace Milton Mendes in March, with the side sat at the foot of the division.

He has managed to inspire an upturn in form in Madeira, with Maritimo picking up nine points from his first six games in the hot seat.

As a result, Os Verde-Rubros have lifted themselves out of the automatic drop zone and up to the relegation playoff place, now sitting just one point adrift of automatic safety.

That means a victory on Sunday would see them move out of the bottom three, while increasing the gap between themselves and the automatic relegation places.

The Spaniard will be hoping that his side can continue their upwards trajectory, as they play another crucial game in their bid to avoid the drop.

Team News

Boavista will come into this game without centre-back Jackson Porozo, who will serve a suspension after his red card in the defeat to Braga.

Worryingly for Ferreira, his first-choice centre-back Cristian Devenish was absent from the squad for that Braga game and could miss Sunday's encounter.

Attacker Angel Gomes will be pushing for a return to the starting side after he was dropped to the bench last time out.

He could reform an attacking line with Alberth Elis and Yusupha Njie, who has netted three goals in his last three games.

Maritimo have eased forward Rodrigo Pinho back into action with substitute appearances following his spell out with injury, but he could be called upon from the start in Sunday's crucial encounter.

Pinho has netted nine goals in the Portuguese top flight so far this season to keep his side firmly in the battle for survival.

At the other end of the pitch, Leo Andrade and Zainadine Junior have formed a solid centre-back pairing, helping their side to two wins from the last three games with two clean sheets.

Boavista possible starting lineup:
Leonardo; Cannon, Awaziem, Rami, Hamache; Paulino, Perez, Sauer; Gomes, Elis, Njie

Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Abedzadeh; Winck, Junior, Andrade, China; Guitane, Santos, Pelagio, Tagueu; Pinho, Alipour

We say: Boavista 1-1 Maritimo

With a loss being extremely damaging to either side, we see this being a cagey encounter between two teams who have improved in recent weeks.

On this occasion, we cannot separate the sides and expect them both to settle for a draw, rather than risking defeat.