**Both sides are limping into this Taça de Portugal clash with nearly identical records** — one win, one draw, three losses in their last five. Someone's gotta turn it around, and cup ties are the perfect excuse to fire on all cylinders. ⚽

Guarda showed serious teeth with a 6-0 demolition of CA Fundão but sandwiched it between losses. **Chaves** scraped past Feirense but got spanked 1-2 away at Felgueiras. Form's a mess for both; this is a coin flip.

Key storylines:

- **Guarda's attack** needs to replicate that 6-0 form with G. Sousa and I. Mané leading the charge — they can't afford another flat performance
- **Chaves' fragility on the road** is a real worry; away losses will haunt them if they don't tighten up defensively around J. Valido
- Cup football rewards tempo and intensity; whichever midfield trio (**B. Santos, C. Okwara** for Guarda vs **T. Simões, G. García** for Chaves) controls possession will likely set the tone

Expected lineups:

- **Guarda FC**: J. Fidalgo, A. Mondlane, B. França, D. Gomes, E. S. Abubu, B. Santos, C. Okwara, G. Sousa, I. Mané, J. Mendes, L. Maurício
- **Chaves**: J. Valido, K. Pereira, M. Tounkara, R. Alves, L. Alaba, T. Simões, G. García, P. Pelágio, A. Rodrigues, Roberto, R. Esajas

Prediction:

**Guarda 2-1 Chaves**. Slight lean on the home side to capitalize on that goal-scoring spark, but Chaves will make it scrappy.

🇧🇷 BR