Preview: Pacos de Ferreira vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

With Benfica dropping points at Chaves last weekend, Sergio Conceicao's side could potentially cut the lead at the top of the table to just one point with a win this weekend.

Match preview

Pacos de Ferreira slipped further into trouble at the bottom end of the Primeira Liga table last Saturday when they fell to a 3-1 defeat against fellow strugglers Maritimo in a pulsating relegation three-pointer.

In an action-packed contest at the Estadio do Maritimo, Andre Vidigal, Val Soares and Vitor Costa all found the back of the net to put the hosts in a commanding lead before Adrian Butzke pulled one back from the spot in the 79th minute.

Pacos de Ferreira have now gone four consecutive games without a win, picking up two points from a possible 12 since their 1-0 victory over Santa Clara on March 11.

With 17 points from 28 games, Cesar Peixoto's men are currently bottom but one in the Primeira Liga table, two points above last-placed Santa Clara and five points behind Maritimo in the relegation playoff spot.

While the Pacenses will be looking to kick-start a late push from the automatic relegation places, Saturday's game pits them against a Porto side who have won each of their last five meetings.

Conceicao's men also head into the weekend unbeaten in 17 of their last 20 matches against Pacos de Ferreira, claiming 16 wins and one draw since March 2009.

Porto moved four points within league leaders Benfica last Saturday when they picked up a 2-1 victory over Santa Clara at the Estadio do Dragao.

Mateus Uribe and Danny Namaso scored either side of the half-time break to put the hosts in a commanding lead before substitute Kyosuke Tagawa halved the deficit in the second minute of stoppage time.

Porto have now won each of their last three outings and are unbeaten in seven consecutive games across all competitions, claiming five wins and two draws since February's 2-1 loss against Gil Vicente.

With 67 points from 28 games, the Dragoes are currently second in the league table, four points off first-placed Benfica and two points above Braga just outside the automatic Champions League qualifying places.

Porto follow Saturday's game with a trip to the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao to face Famalicao in the first leg of their Taca de Portugal semi-final clash on April 26 while Pacos de Ferreira take on Vizela at the Estadio do FC Vizela.

Pacos de Ferreira Primeira Liga form:

L

W

D

D

L

L

Porto Primeira Liga form:

W

W

D

W

W

W

Porto form (all competitions):

W

D

D

W

W

W

Team News

Pacos de Ferreira remain without first-choice goalkeeper Jose Marafona, who will serve the last of his three-match suspension after picking up a straight red against Vitoria de Guimaraes on April 1.

On the injury front, Peixoto will be unable to call upon the services of Scottish midfielder Jordan Holsgrove, who was forced off injured inside the opening eight minutes against Maritimo last Saturday.

In his absence, veteran midfielder Luiz Carlos should be handed his 11th start of the season, teaming up with Rui Pires and Benfica loanee Paulo Bernardo at the centre of the park.

Portuguese forward Hernani Infande came off injured in the game against Famalicao on April 8 and will also play no part in this weekend's clash.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old midfielder Joao Mario missed last week's game against Santa Clara after coming off injured versus Benfica on April 7 and is a major doubt for Porto.

With the first leg of their Taca de Portugal semi-final clash on the horizon, Conceicao could name a shuffled side on Saturday, with Evanilson and Andre Franco pushing for starting roles.

Following his eye-catching cameo against Santa Clara, Namaso could be rewarded with a place in the XI, while we expect an unchanged midfield pairing of Uribe and Stephen Eustaquio.

Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:

Vekic; Delgado, Ferigra, Maracas, Antunes; Bernardo, Pires, Carlos; Gaitan, Thomas, Gomes

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Franco, Pepe, Marcano, Wendell; Otavio, Eustaquio, Uribe, Galeno; Namaso, Pepe

We say: Pacos de Ferreira 0-2 Porto

While Famalicao will be looking to kick-start their turnaround, they are no match for a Porto side who are currently firing on all cylinders. With Benfica's drop-off in form putting the Dragoes back in the title race, we are backing them to comfortably edge out the Pacenses and close the gap at the top of the table to just one point.

Previews by email