Looking to bounce back after a tough loss in the Minho derby, Vitoria de Guimaraes is set to host Arouca at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques for the fourth round of the Primeira Liga.
Vitoria, coming off a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Moreirense, has had a shaky start to the season. The team, which was hoping to secure a European spot after a late collapse last season, has already lost two of its first three games. Last weekend's loss to their rivals not only highlighted the team’s inconsistency but also exposed some serious defensive issues. They’ve given up seven goals in just three games, which is the second-worst record in the league. On top of that, they've been shut out in two of those matches, showing that head coach Luis Pinto has his work cut out for him on both sides of the ball.
However, there's a silver lining: Vitoria is formidable at home. They've won six of their last nine league games at Afonso Henriques, keeping six clean sheets and scoring 14 goals in the process. This strong home form gives them confidence as they face an Arouca team with a leaky defense.
Arouca, also known as the Wolves, has been even more vulnerable at the back, giving up a whopping 10 goals so far. Despite this, they've managed to pick up four points. They started with a win against AVS but were then demolished 6-0 by champions Sporting. Last weekend, they salvaged a dramatic 3-3 draw against Rio Ave, thanks to a late goal from Nais Djouahra. This result leaves them in eighth place in the standings. While Arouca hopes to climb higher, they've had a tough time against Vitoria, failing to beat them in their last four meetings. They did, however, manage a 2-2 draw on their last visit, which might give them a boost of confidence. Their away form, though, has been a problem, with three losses and two draws in their last five league games on the road.
Vitoria's coach might shake things up in the defense, possibly giving Paulo Vitor his debut and maybe bringing in Telmo Arcanjo at right wing-back after his strong performance off the bench last weekend. They're still missing key players, though, with Oscar Rivas, Samu, and Diogo Sousa out with injuries.
For Arouca, Tiago Esgaio could get a start on the right side of the defense after his impressive cameo. Dylan Nandin is back from suspension and might replace Ivan Barbero up front, while Alfonso Trezza and Djouahra are likely to keep their spots after both scored in their last game.
