Gil Vicente vs AVS – News and Probable Lineups

With just 21 points remaining in the season, the status of AVS in the Primeira Liga is in jeopardy as they head to face Gil Vicente, who are pursuing a spot in Europe, in the 28th round on Friday.

The team from Northern Portugal finds themselves at the bottom with only 11 points from 27 fixtures, leaving them 13 points off safety and facing a daunting task at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos, especially following a five-match winless streak.

Match overview

AVS had to go through a play-off to dodge immediate relegation during their inaugural season in the top tier, but it seems this time luck may not be on their side.

Indeed, the prospects for the last-placed team appear bleak unless Joao Henriques can spark a significant change in their fortunes over the last seven rounds.

Having not won in their last five matches — with three draws and two losses — and securing just one victory in their last 10 outings, signs of improvement remain elusive.

The bottom team in the league has also struggled severely with scoring, netting just 18 goals while conceding 58, marking the lowest and highest figures in the division respectively.

With a single win throughout the entire campaign, it would take a miraculous turnaround for a team that is 13 points behind Casa Pia with 24 points and 11 points away from a play-off spot to maintain their place in the Liga after two years.

While Henriques’s squad is up against a team 12 positions above them in the league, the recent dip in form from Gil Vicente might provide AVS with a sliver of hope.

Gil Vicente’s recent decline was somewhat unexpected, given their recent three-match winning streak against Famalicao (5-0), Moreirense (2-1), and Braga (2-1) that had solidified their position in the top-four race with four wins from five.

This surge was part of a broader trend where Cesar Peixoto’s team only lost one of their last 10 matches — a 3-0 loss to league leaders Porto — emphasizing why they were considered strong candidates for a European spot.

Although they had few clean sheets during that phase, with shutouts limited to Vitoria Guimaraes (0-0) and Fama (5-0), the Galos consistently showcased their ability to score.

Nevertheless, this attacking strength has dwindled recently, as the Roosters have failed to win any of their last five league games, suffering three losses to Estoril (3-1), Benfica (2-1), and Santa Clara (1-0), alongside two draws against Estrela and Alverca.

The consequences of these outcomes place Gil Vicente sixth in the standings with 42 points, five points ahead of seventh-placed Estoril, but four points shy of fourth-placed Braga in the competition for a Europa Conference League qualification.

With the fourth-placed side having a game in hand as well, the Galos must regain their form to enhance their chances of European football in the 2026-27 season.

Team News

Gil Vicente’s centre-back Marvin Elimbi had to leave the match against Santa Clara early before the international break and will be evaluated ahead of the upcoming league fixture.

January signing Hector Hernandez is also in a race against time to be fit for gameweek 28, having not featured since March 8; however, Jonathan Mutombo and Mohamed Bamba are confirmed absentees.

With Pablo Felipe, who scored 10 goals, now at West Ham United, the responsibility has shifted to Murilo Costa — who has seven goals and four assists — and Santi Garcia — six goals and three assists — to lead the attacking charge, with Murilo involved in eight goals across 11 appearances in 2026.

Only four players have scored more than once for the struggling away team: Nene (four), Diego Duarte (three), Tomane (two), and Oscar Perea (two).

However, Nene last found the net in late January, while Duarte, Tomane, and Perea have not scored since February, February, and December respectively, highlighting the visitors’ difficulties in front of goal.

Concerning injuries, Roni’s status is in doubt following his 29th-minute exit against Tondela a fortnight ago, and Antoine Baroan and Angel Algobia are unavailable.

Gil Vicente probable starting XI:

Lucao; Santos, Espigares, Buatu, Konan; Carlos, Caseres; Souza, Esteves, Moreira; Varela

AVS probable starting XI:

Adriel; Pivo, Santos, Ponck, Rivas; Mendonca, Galletto, Lima; Green, Tomane, Perea

Gil Vicente’s inconsistent form keeps the possibility of an upset alive if they fail to seize key opportunities.

Nonetheless, the significant differences in confidence, league standings, and AVS’s offensive output heavily favor the hosts, who are anticipated to deliver a competent, albeit unspectacular, performance leading to a close win.