Guimarães vs Tondela – News and Probable Lineups

Vitoria de Guimaraes will be eager to see if their return following the international break signals a change in fortune in their quest for a European finish as they host relegation-threatened Tondela at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques for Primeira Liga round 28 on Friday.

Currently, the Conquerors are in ninth place in the Portuguese top tier, a substantial 13 points adrift of the fifth spot, whereas the Gold and Green find themselves second from the bottom and four points away from safety, albeit just two points from a playoff position with a game in hand.

Match overview

Ending a 13-year wait for a trophy, followed by inconsistent performances and now an extended winless period, Vitoria has taken their fans on an emotional journey throughout 2026, with their recent league form prompting a change in management.

After Luis Pinto was dismissed following a three-match spell without a win (D1, L2), Gil Lameira has yet to ignite a revival since taking over from the club’s B team, having lost both matches in charge, including a 3-0 defeat against Benfica last time out.

Thus far, the Guimaraes side has lost seven of their last 10 games (W2, D1) since their Taca da Liga victory in January, with six of those losses coming after conceding at least twice while managing to score in four of those defeats, highlighting defensive frailties.

Going into this weekend’s clash against a relegation-threatened side offers some hope, particularly as Vitoria achieved a 1-0 victory in the previous fixture, though setbacks in two of their last three home confrontations (W1) with Tondela provide a word of caution.

Moreover, the Conquerors have failed to win three of their last five clashes at Afonso Henriques, including their last two, which raises further concerns about their ability to secure maximum points on Friday.

Tondela, similar to their opponents, have also made a managerial change, with this weekend’s match representing Goncalo Feio’s inaugural game in charge following Cristiano Bacci’s exit.

The Italian manager departed the Beira club after a winless last three matches (D2, L1), with the Gold and Green failing to score in the last two games, including a goalless draw against bottom side AVS in a relegation six-pointer just before the international break.

Arriving as the club’s third manager since the start of the season, Feio can at least build on a resilient run that has produced only one defeat in seven fixtures (W1, D5).

While victories have been hard to come by, the new head coach will also aim to enhance their attacking performance, with the Gold and Green having failed to find the back of the net in six of their last 10 games, leading to them having the second weakest offensive record in the league with only 19 goals.

However, Tondela has recently displayed improvement in away matches, scoring exactly twice in each of their last two travels while gathering four points from a possible six, and Feio will hope that this momentum carries into his first match at the helm.

Team News

Vitoria enters this match without any new injury issues, with the majority of the squad having benefited from rest during the international break.

Telmo Alcanjo is an exception, having been an unused substitute in Cape Verde’s second FIFA Series match on Monday, meaning the winger is likely to be well-rested.

Defender Oscar Rivas made his return from a lengthy absence in the loss to Benfica and could maintain his position for another appearance.

Tondela also experienced limited international involvement, though Yaya Sithole and Remi Vita have seemingly returned unscathed after representing África do Sul and Comores, respectively.

However, midfielders Hugo Felix and Cicero, along with winger Roni Lopez, remain sidelined with muscle injuries, while Helder Tavares, who had to leave the match against AVS two weeks ago, is uncertain.

Vitoria de Guimaraes probable starting XI:

Charles; Strata, Balieiro, Rivas, Mendes; BENI, G Nogueira; G Silva, Samu, Saviolo; Oliveira

Tondela probable starting XI:

Bernardo; Silva, Marques, Medina; Bebeto, Hodge, Rodriguez, Conceicao; Maranhao, Aiko; Siebatcheu

Neither team heads into this fixture in particularly strong form, and with the recent changes in management for both sides, distinguishing between them is challenging.

While Lameira has had some time to start implementing his strategies, Vitoria’s ongoing issues may persist, which makes a draw a probable outcome, especially considering the number of recent stalemates for Tondela.