Gil Vicente vs. Arouca – News and Probable Lineups

Hopefuls for a top-five finish, Gil Vicente aim to get back to winning ways as they host Arouca in Barcelos for the second-to-last matchup of the 2025-26 Primeira Liga season on Monday.

The home side is currently positioned sixth in the Portuguese top-tier standings, trailing fifth-placed Famalicao by two points, while their opponents sit in 11th place, safely out of the relegation zone and just two points away from the top half.

Match overview

Gil Vicente has had quite a successful season by their standards, especially when considering their previous three campaigns, where they finished in the lower half. However, the absence of European football might be viewed as a disappointment based on the trajectory of their season.

Having held onto fourth place for a significant portion of the first half of the season, the Roosters did drop to fifth following a loss to league leaders Porto on matchday 19, though they quickly bounced back winning three consecutive fixtures.

Nonetheless, under Cesar Peixoto, the team has only achieved two wins in their last 10 matches (D4, L4), and this inconsistency became evident once more as they failed to capitalize on their victory against Casa Pia, managing only a goalless draw against Rio Ave last weekend.

This result marked a joint league-high 11th draw for the Roosters this season, with their difficulty in converting draws into wins proving detrimental in the pursuit of a continental spot. Nonetheless, a victory on Monday could elevate Gil Vicente to fifth if Famalicao falters against Estrela Amadora.

Returning to their familiar ground should motivate Peixoto’s squad, who have secured nine victories in 16 home league matches this season (D3, L4). However, recent performance at Barcelos has been somewhat inconsistent, with just two wins in their last five home games (D1, L2).

Meanwhile, Arouca enters this match following a 2-2 draw against Santa Clara, where the Wolves demonstrated resilience even after manager Vasco Seabra was dismissed from the sideline, and midfielder Lee Hyun-ju received a red card midway through the second half.

Tiago Esgaio seemed to have secured three points for Arouca after scoring in the 83rd minute, but Elias Manoel equalized for the Azoreans during stoppage time, meaning the Lobos have recorded just one win in their last four matches (D1, L2).

Seabra’s squad has now conceded 62 goals this season in the Primeira Liga, with only bottom-placed AVS (66) having a leaky defence resulting in more goals conceded. Notably, three of their last four wins have come with clean sheets, indicating how crucial a solid defence will be if they aspire to take points from Monday’s fixture.

However, with five losses in their last six away league games (W1), even a draw would likely be considered a satisfactory outcome. Nevertheless, their strong historical performance in this matchup should bolster their confidence, as the Wolves are unbeaten in the last 10 encounters with this opponent (W4, D6).

Team News

Gil Vicente will continue to be without defensive midfielder Mohamed Bamba, who has been unavailable since late February due to injury.

Tidjany Toure has also been absent from the matchday squad for the last five fixtures, making his participation uncertain, while full-back Jonathan Mutombo could miss another game.

Winger Murilo de Souza stands as the leading scorer for the Barcelos side with 11 league goals, hoping to regain his scoring form after not finding the back of the net in the last match.

For Arouca, Puche may miss a third consecutive match, while fellow forward Dylan Nandin is also a doubt after facing injury against Moreirense in March.

Additionally, Lee is likely to serve a suspension due to his prior dismissal, which may mean Pablo Gozalbez steps into the number 10 role.

Gil Vicente probable starting XI:

Figueira: Konan, Mananga, Elimbi, Ze Carlos; Stephen, Ze Carlos Natario; Moreira, Garcia, Souza; Varela

Arouca probable starting XI:

Arruabar’s; Esgaio, Sanchez, Fontan, Kuipers; Fukui, Van Ee; Trezza, Gozalbez, Djouahra; barber

This encounter has seen goals from both teams in the last four meetings, including a previous 2-2 draw, suggesting another thrilling match could be on the horizon, especially given Arouca’s attacking capabilities.

Nonetheless, the Wolves’ defensive weaknesses could ultimately be pivotal, and with Gil Vicente having greater motivation in their chase for a top-five finish, the home side is expected to possess enough quality to secure a victory in this game.