11th and 15th in the Primera Liga will meet this weekend in an important battle at the Municipal Stadium just two weeks before the World Cup break with GD Chaves welcoming Santa Clara to their own patch.
It's been a struggle for both sides in the league this season, but it's Santa Clara who are in dire straits more than any of the sides outside of the relegation zone.
In fact, the club are only out of the drop zone because of their better goals difference of Gil Vicente, which sees them having scored eight times compared to their nine, but letting in four goals fewer in the process.
Preparação para o jogo com o @gdchaves1949 🔛#NósSomosOsAçores #BravosAçorianos pic.twitter.com/09KXvbZz8h— cd.santaclara (@CD_SantaClara) November 2, 2022
Preparação para o jogo com o @gdchaves1949 🔛#NósSomosOsAçores #BravosAçorianos pic.twitter.com/09KXvbZz8h
Santa Clara have been in better form to some extent as of late, which has now moved them out of the relegation zone. They managed to edge past Vizela 1-0 in the last game, which came just one week on from the embarrassing loss to Tondela in a 2-0 Taca de Portugal defeat.
Santa Clara then went on to draw 1-1 with Porto, which although not the win they needed, against such a big club, they should be commended for at least coming away with a point.
There is still great concern running through the club with just their eight goals scored, however, but with a four-point gap on the automatic relegation place of 17th, they are still in the clear for now. Moreover, the club have lost six times and drawn three too.
Things have darkened for Chaves a little in the past two weeks too, as they lost 3-1 to Valadares Gaia in the Taca de Portugal.
The club did return to the win column a week on, as they beat Gil Vicente 3-1, which ironically, gave Santa Clara a huge hand down at the bottom.
On the other hand, Chaves were smashed 5-0 by Benfica in Lisbon in what was their worst result of the season.
They weren't expected to beat the league leaders, but having just two shots on target and conceding 10 of their own in the 5-0 loss, they were beaten quite badly that day.
Chaves do have four wins on the board now and four defeats, and if they fancy getting into the top half of the table before the World Cup break, they must win here or it could be mathematically impossible as we approach the season's pause.
Forebet predicts a draw and for the game to see under 2.5 goals.