Vitória SC seek first league points against Nacional as Tiago Margarido faces former club

Lineup changes for Vitória SC

Vitória SC enter matchday three of Liga Portugal searching for their first points after opening the campaign with consecutive defeats. The Guimarães club lost 1-0 against Arouca in round one before falling 3-2 away to Sporting, having trailed 3-0 at half-time. Manager Tiago Margarido stated that the first-half display in Lisbon failed to reflect the team's standards despite a spirited second-half recovery. Right-back Tony Strata is in contention to replace Miguel Maga, while midfielder Lohann Doucet could start ahead of Beni Mukendi. In attack, Gustavo Silva is expected to operate centrally, with Miguel Nogueira and Patrick Ouotro occupying the wings.

There will be changes in the team. As I had the opportunity to say at the end of the match with Sporting, the first half does not align with our values, but in the second, the team gave an excellent response. It had nothing to do with the substitutions. It had to do with a change of attitude. However, for the next match, we will make changes.

Margarido meets his former team

Sunday's fixture carries personal significance for Margarido, who spent the previous three seasons managing Nacional before taking charge of Vitória SC. While Vitória sit on zero points, Nacional travel to mainland Portugal with four points from their opening two matches. Margarido acknowledged the emotional dimension of the encounter at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques while maintaining that his team's sole objective is earning all three points.

It was a club I represented for three years. They were three years of success and a beautiful story. As a coach, it is even more special to represent Vitória at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques. It will be a doubly special match for me, but only until the referee blows the whistle. After that, our focus is entirely on victory for Vitória.

Nacional early form and tactical structure

Under 40-year-old head coach João Gião, Nacional began their season with a 2-2 draw away to Santa Clara followed by a 2-0 home victory against Estoril. The Madeira side employ a five-man defensive block when out of possession, shifting between a 3-4-3 and a 4-2-3-1 setup in attacking phases. Nacional have not won a league match at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques since 2015. Gião noted that his players must handle the intense atmosphere generated by the home supporters.

It is a stadium that pushes the team forward, that passes extra energy to their players in the fight for the second ball, for duels, and to stay switched on. The crowd naturally plays a decisive emotional role, so we will have to know how to handle that and control our emotions well.

Squad availability and transfer updates

Vitória SC will remain without 21-year-old Colombian center-back Yeimar Mosquera, formerly of Aston Villa. The club continues to await a criminal record document from England required to finalize his league registration. Meanwhile, newly signed Swedish winger Victor Andersson has joined the squad from AIK. Margarido praised Andersson for his one-on-one ability on the left flank, describing him as a player who can unlock stubborn defenses with his direct attacking style and shooting threat. The match kicks off on Sunday at 15:30 local time.