Estoril vs Moreirense – News and Probable Lineups

Moreirense will be aiming to recover from their midweek exit in the Taca de Portugal during their visit to Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota to take on bottom-placed Estoril Praia in the ninth round of the Portuguese Primeira Liga this Sunday.

Estoril, struggling in their last six matchups against Moreirense without a win, will enter the weekend hoping to outsmart Os verdes e brancos and finally secure their first league victory.

Match overview

Despite a dismal start to the league season, Estoril Praia managed to sidestep an early elimination in the Taca de Portugal last Sunday, clinching a penalty-shootout win against Campeonato de Portugal side Salgueiros following a 1-1 draw in normal time.

In a crucial moment for Estoril, Rafik Guitane scored in the 89th minute to equalize after Deven had given Salgueiros the lead in the 81st minute, pushing the match into extra time. After no goals were scored in the additional period, Estoril triumphed 4-1 in the penalty shootout.

Although the team’s performance was again shaky, head coach Leandro Pires will be optimistic that this cup success can lead to a needed turnaround in the Primeira Liga, where the Canarinhos have thus far been unable to claim a victory, recording two draws and suffering six defeats.

With 12 goals already conceded, Estoril Praia’s defensive shortcomings have been a major issue this season, a concern made evident during their most recent Primeira Liga match on October 10, when they lost 2-1 to newcomers Academico Viseu at the Estadio Municipal do Fontelo, leaving them at the bottom of the league table.

As they look to remedy their current form this weekend, Estoril faces a team they have not bested in their last six encounters, enduring three losses and securing three draws since their last win against Moreirense, a 1-0 result in May 2022.

Conversely, Moreirense was eliminated from the Taca de Portugal in their first match last weekend, falling to a 1-0 defeat against AVS during their third-round encounter at Estadio do CD das Aves.

A goal from Rodrigo Pinho in the third minute proved significant after Maracas was sent off just before half-time, as the hosts capitalized on their man advantage to seal a third consecutive win across all competitions.

This reflected their struggles in the Primeira Liga, where Moreirense has not managed to win six of their first eight games, recording two draws and suffering four losses, including a 1-0 defeat at home against Gil Vicente on October 8, which places them in 12th position in the league standings.

While Vasco Costa’s squad has been effective in attacking, scoring eight times in their eight league matches, the fact that they’ve already conceded 15 goals— the fourth highest in the league—reveals a need for defensive improvement if they are to turn their fortunes around this weekend.

Despite this, given their track record at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota, Moreirense faces an uphill battle, having not won in nine of their last 11 away matches against Estoril, suffering five losses and recording four draws since February 2011.

Team News

For Estoril Praia, the attacking partnership of Fabricio Garcia and Moroccan forward Yanis Begraoui will be unavailable due to injuries.

Israel Salazar is on a lengthy road to recovery from a cruciate ligament tear he sustained in August 2025, and 31-year-old midfielder Xeka has been sidelined for the last five matches following an injury against Benfica on August 31.

On the side of Moreirense, head coach Costa will not have the services of veteran defender Maracas, who is serving a suspension after receiving a red card in the cup loss to AVS last weekend.

Gâmbian international Gilberto Batista, who has played in all eight Primeira Liga fixtures this season, is expected to return to the starting XI, joining Kiko, Kevyn Monteiro, and 26-year-old Dinis Pinto in defense.

Alexandre Parsemain is also set to miss his third consecutive game for Os verdes e brancos after picking up an injury while playing for Martinique against Suriname in September.

Estoril Praia probable starting XI:

Robles; Sanchez, Tsoungui, Ferro, Jurisic; Holsgrove, Robin; Guitane, Carvalho, Omerovic; Lacximicant

Moreirense probable starting XI:

Ferreira; Kiko, Monteiro, Batista, Pinto; Liberato, John; Andrade, Mendonca, Kind; Vonic

With their wounds still fresh from their cup elimination, Moreirense heads back into league play in dire need of a morale booster and will be optimistic about facing an Estoril Praia team that has stumbled through the new season.

Even though Estoril did manage to achieve victory, they delivered another lackluster performance against amateur outfit Salgueiros in the cup, and it seems likely they may settle for a draw against Moreirense, a side they have been unable to defeat since May 2022.