Title hopefuls Porto are set to welcome Estoril Praia to Estadio Do Dragao on Sunday in their 10th Primeira Liga game of the season.
The hosts are second in the table with 24 points from nine games and are six points behind leaders Sporting Lisbon, while the visitors are 11th with nine points after nine matchweeks and beat 14th-placed Arouca 4-1 on October 26.
Match preview
© Imago
The Dragons beat Moreirense 2-0 on Thursday to progress to the semi-finals of Portugal's League Cup, and they will face Sporting Lisbon on January 7, 2025 for a place in the final.
In their last league outing, the hosts beat AVS Futebol SAD 5-0 on October 28, a match that Porto led 4-0 by the half-time interval.
Sunday's hosts will feel that they have a realistic chance of reclaiming the title from champions Sporting given manager Ruben Amorim has agreed to take over from Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
Dragons boss Vitor Bruno took charge in June 2024, and his side have scored 23 times and conceded on four occasions in the Primeira Liga, the division's second-best offensive and second-best defensive records respectively.
Bruno's side have won six of their seven most recent matches and have won 11 of their last 12 league games.
The home team have triumphed in their last six top-flight matches at Estadio Do Dragao and have in fact won 22, drawn four and lost just two of their last 28 home games in the Primeira Liga.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Estoril's win against Arouca was their second victory in the league in their last 12 games, having lost seven and drawn three in that period.
Sunday's visitors trailed 1-0 after 24 minutes against Arouca, but first-half goals from Alejandro Marques and Wagner Pina ensured they took a 2-1 lead heading into the interval.
To manager Ian Cathro's credit, his team have averaged the 10th most goals scored per game as well as the joint 10th fewest goals conceded per game, and perhaps his side's standing in 14th place does not reflect their performances this term.
Cathro's side are only three points from 16th-placed Estrela da Amadora, who are third last and occupy the league's relegation playoff spot.
Estoril have been poor away from home for some time, losing eight and drawing seven of their last 15 matches on the road in the league, and they have lost 23, drawn nine and won just one of their last 33 away games in the Primeira Liga.
It should be noted that the visitors' most recent away victory was a 1-0 win against Porto in November 2023.
Team News
© Imago
Porto will be without centre-back Ivan Marcano and left-back Zaidu Sanusi, though the former could soon make his comeback from a cruciate ligament injury, while Sanusi should be available again in the middle of November.
The hosts are likely to start Martim Fernandes, Nehuen Perez, Tiago Djalo and Francisco Moura in front of goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Alan Varela and Nico Gonzalez are candidates to feature in a double pivot, while striker Samu Omorodion could be flanked by Fabio Vieira and Pepe.
Estoril are likely to name a similar starting XI to the side that beat Arouca, so expect goalkeeper Joel Robles to be shielded by centre-backs Pedro Alvaro and Kevin Boma.
Jandro Orellana may be joined by Vinicius Zanocelo and Jordan Holsgrove in midfield, while Joao Carvalho, Alejandro Marques and Fabricio Garcia could start in the forward line.
Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Fernandes, Perez, Djalo, Moura; Varela, Gonzalez; Vieira, Namaso, Pepe; Omorodion
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Robles; Pina, Alvaro, Boma, Amaral; Orellana, Zanocelo, Holsgrove; Carvalho, Marques, Garcia
We say: Porto 4-0 Estoril Praia
Porto's outstanding form this season should mean they come into Sunday's clash as strong favourites.
Estoril have also been poor on the road, and it would not be surprising if they conceded multiple goals despite taking some confidence from their win last time out.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
