Porto and Mafra get their respective 2022-23 Taca da Liga campaigns underway when they go head to head at the Estadio do Dragao on Friday.
Having claimed a 3-0 victory over the Segunda Liga outfit when the sides squared off in the Taca de Portugal a fortnight ago, the Portuguese champions will be looking to make it back-to-back victories over the visitors.
Match preview
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Left spitting feathers following a shock group-stage exit last season, Porto must avoid another upset as they head into this Taca da Liga campaign still in search of their first-ever title.
Sergio Conceicao's side ensured that they remain within touching distance of Benfica in the Primeira Liga as they cruised to a 4-1 victory over Boavista when the sides squared off at the Estadio do Bessa on November 12.
Ivan Marcano, Stephen Eustaquio, and Wenderson Galeno all scored to put the hosts in a commanding lead, and after Kenji Gorre pulled one back for the hosts in the 91st minute, Galeno added his second of the game to cap off a superb team performance.
The Dragoes have now picked up nine wins, two draws and lost two of their 13 league matches to collect 29 points and sit second in the Primeira Liga table, eight points off Roger Schmidt's side at the top of the pile.
Porto head into the weekend unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions, claiming an impressive five wins and one draw since a 1-0 defeat at the hands of rivals Benfica on October 21.
This fine run of results saw the Portuguese champions reach the round of 16 of the Taca de Portugal courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Friday's visitors on November 8 and also finish as winners of Group B of the Champions League with 12 points from six matches.
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Mafra, on the other hand, were denied a third consecutive victory in the Segunda Liga last time out, when they could only salvage a 1-1 draw against Leixoes at the Estadio Municipal de Mafra.
Former Vitoria de Guimaraes forward Ricardo Valente struck in the 33rd minute to hand the visitors a first-half lead before 29-year-old Enca Fati scored in the 79th minute to force a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, Ricardo Sousa's men claimed a 1-0 victory over Torreense on October 29 which saw their two-game winless run come to an end, before coming from behind to edge out Covilha 3-2 in an exciting contest six days later.
Mafra, who reached the quarter-finals of the Taca da Liga in the 2020-21 campaign before losing 2-0 against Sporting Lisbon, are currently 12th in the Segunda Liga standings with 16 points from 13 matches.
The Mafra-based outfit head into the weekend winless in three of their last five away matches across all competitions — losing twice and claiming one draw — with victories over Santarem and Torreense being the exception.
Team News
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Porto will be without several key players who are currently in action for their respective nations at the World Cup, including the trio of Diogo Costa, Pepe and forward Otavio, who are with the Portugal squad.
Iranian forward Mehdi Taremi and the midfield duo of Marko Grujic and Stephen Eustaquio, who are representing Serbia and Canada respectively, will also play no part in this weekend's encounter.
On the injury front, Conceicao will be unable to call upon the services of Gabriel Veron and Nigerian full-back Zaidu Sanusi, who are currently recuperating from knee and muscle injuries respectively.
Pite, who has featured in nine of the 12 Segunda Liga games this season, came off at half time against Leixoes in what was a tactical change and the 28-year-old midfielder should retain his role in the starting side.
He should be joined at the centre of the park by Leo Cordeiro, Leandrinho, and veteran midfielder Guilherme, while we expect an unchanged back three of Pedro Pacheco, Pedro Silva and Midtjylland loanee Ousmane Diomande.
Fati, who opened his account for the season, should spearhead the attack once again, teaming up with Lucas Rodrigues and former Pacos de Ferreira striker Diogo Almeida in the final third.
Porto possible starting lineup:
Ramos; Wendell, Marcano, Cardoso, Pepe; Galeno, Uribe, Franco; Evanilson, Borges, Martinez
Mafra possible starting lineup:
Dida; Pacheco, Silva, Diomande; Cordeiro, Leandrinho, Pite, Guilherme; Fati, Rodrigues, Almeida
We say: Porto 3-0 Mafra
While Mafra will be looking to stun the hosts, they take on an in-form Porto side who are currently firing on all cylinders. While the hosts will be without several players who are in Qatar, they still possess the firepower needed to get the job done and we predict they will claim all three points on Friday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
