Guimaraes can boost top-four ambitions

Portuguese Primeira Liga
8.30pm

Fourth-placed Guimaraes are finishing the season with a spring in their step and can make it six Primeira Liga wins in a row by winning on their travels against mid-table Vitoria Setubal.

Guimaraes look to have left it too late to challenge for a Champions League place but they can stay in mathematical contention for another week if they collect maximum points.

Nine of their 16 league wins this season have been on the road and they should not be too fearful of Setubal, who are safe from relegation and on a poor run, taking one point from their last three games.

If Guimaraes stay in the top four - they are five points ahead of fifth-placed Braga - they will register their highest finish since the 2007-08 campaign.

And it could be a truly memorable season if they manage to spring a major surprise by defeating Benfica in the Portuguese Cup final next month.

Loan signings have played a key role in helping Guimaraes improve on last season's tenth place.

Porto loanee Moussa Marega has top scored for the club with 12 goals and Reading attacking midfielder Paulo Hurtado has come to the fore more recently with a goal in each of the last three games.

Setubal face a tough challenge keeping Marega and Hurtado at bay and they may struggle to respond.

Jose Couceiro's side have scored just 11 goals in 15 league games in 2017 and are badly missing attacker Andre Claro, who scored 16 goals in 50 club appearances before sealing a January switch to Estoril.

Setubal lost 3-0 away to Estoril last Saturday and are playing as if the end of the season cannot come soon enough.

Recommendation
Vitoria Guimaraes
1pt 13-10 Hills

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