Guimarães vs. Estrela da Amadora – News and Probable Lineups

Vitoria de Guimaraes are aiming to reignite their faltering European aspirations as they host Estrela Amadora at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques this Saturday in round 22 of the Primeira Liga.

A troubling phase has seen Guimaraes drop to ninth in the top tier of Portuguese football, trailing the top four by 11 points and falling nine behind fifth-place Gil Vicente, whereas the Tricolores sit in 11th place, 11 points above the relegation playoff zone.

Match overview

Guimaraes’ performance in the 2025–26 Primeira Liga has been marked by inconsistency, and they find themselves in another slump recently, seemingly struggling to cope with the aftereffects of their recent cup victory.

Following a Taca da Liga success on January 10, which ended a 13-year wait for silverware, head coach Luis Pinto has witnessed his squad lose three of their last four league matches (W1), including a frustrating 3–2 defeat against Arouca last weekend.

Despite initially holding a two-goal advantage thanks to Noah Saviolo and Oumar Camara, Guimaraes ultimately returned from Estadio Municipal de Arouca empty-handed following goals from Alfonso Trezza, Ivan Barbero, and Hyunju Lee.

In total, Guimaraes have faced nine losses in their 21 Primeira Liga fixtures this season (W8, D4), which is one more than the total defeats they accumulated last year when they narrowly missed out on a top-five finish.

With continental qualification looking uncertain for a second consecutive year, securing maximum points on Saturday would significantly revive the Conquerors’ diminishing European hopes, and they can take confidence from having won their last three home league fixtures.

Additionally, their strong record in this fixture is noteworthy, as Guimaraes have triumphed in four of the last five Primeira Liga clashes against Estrela (D1), with all victories accompanied by clean sheets — including a 2–0 victory in their previous meeting.

On the other hand, the Tricolores will aim to turn around their fortunes in this match after breaking a four-match winless streak in the league in 2026 (D2, L2) with a 1–0 victory over Santa Clara last weekend.

After a tense first half, Jovane Cabral’s strike in the 59th minute proved to be the game-winner, granting Estrela just their fifth triumph in 21 league games this season (D8, L8).

Estrela’s Primeira Liga campaign has been plagued by inconsistency, with victories often followed by lengthy barren spells—an issue they have been grappling with for a while without managing to secure consecutive wins since October 2023.

While the Tricolores seek to break this trend over the weekend, their away form provides little optimism, having secured maximum points in only two of their 10 away league matches this term (D4, L4).

Team News

Guimaraes will still be without centre-back Oscar Rivas, who has been out with a muscle injury since December, while midfielder Goncalo Nogueira may miss another match.

Centre-forward Alioune Ndoye was also absent last time and his participation is uncertain again, potentially leading to Nelson Oliveira spearheading the attack.

Saviolo has emerged as a standout player for Guimaraes, having received the league’s Young Player of the Month award for a second straight time, and the 21-year-old winger heads into Saturday’s encounter in fine form following a goal in the last match.

Conversely, for Estrela, midfielder Robinho had to leave the game during last weekend’s win against Santa Clara and is a doubt for this fixture, while Paulo Moreira’s return from suspension should enhance the options in midfield.

Kevin Jansson might miss a third consecutive match due to fitness issues, goalkeeper Dudu is still dealing with a shoulder injury, and winger Jorge Meireles is also a concern after he missed the last game.

Vitoria de Guimaraes probable starting XI:

Charles; Strata, Nobrega, Abascal, J Mendes; BENI, Souza; Camara, Samu, Saviolo; Oliveira

Estrela Amadora probable starting XI:

Ribeiro; Otavio, Schappo, Patrick; Ecanda, Moreira, Moustier, B Langa; Marcus, Antonetti, J Cabral

Guimaraes’ recent supremacy in this matchup could again prove crucial, especially in light of their solid home record, while Estrela’s difficulties when away suggest that the hosts might have enough to secure a decisive victory.