Preview: Portimonense vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

The visiting side head into the weekend fresh off the back of picking up their first Champions League victory this season and will be looking to keep the juggernaut rolling.

Match preview

Portimonense were condemned to a second consecutive away defeat as they were beaten 1-0 by Vizela when the sides squared off at the Estadio do FC Vizela last Saturday.

Despite being on the front foot for most of the game, the Portimao outfit were guilty of a lack of sting in attack as Anderson's 14th-minute strike was enough to hand the hosts their second win of the season.

Portimonense have now lost two of their last three outings, scoring once and shipping five goals in that time — with a 1-0 victory over 10-man Chaves on September 16 sandwiched between the two defeats.

Paulo Sergio's side now return home where they are currently on a run of three consecutive victories, seeing off Vitoria de Guimaraes, Famalicao and Chaves since a 1-0 loss against Boavista on the opening weekend.

With 15 points from their opening eight games, Portimonense are currently fifth in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with sixth-placed Boavista.

With their Taca de Portugal opener against third-tier Vilaverdense on the horizon, victory on Saturday will undoubtedly hand Portimonense a much-needed morale boost as they look to kick off their cup campaign on a high.

Elsewhere, Porto finally got their Champions League campaign up and running as they claimed a 2-0 victory over Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen last Tuesday.

Following an uneventful first half at the Estadio do Dragao, Nigerian full-back Zaidu Sanusi put the hosts ahead in the 69th minute before Wenderson Galeno made sure of the result with an 86th-minute strike.

Prior to that, Porto lost their opening two Champions League games as they were beaten 2-1 by Atletico Madrid in their Group B opener on September 7 before suffering a disappointing 4-0 loss to Club Brugge six days later.

Sergio Conceicao's side now turn their sights to the Primeira Liga, where they are currently on a four-game unbeaten run, claiming 10 points from the last 12 available since a 3-1 loss against Rio Ave on August 28.

The Dragoes have picked up six wins, one draw and lost one of their eight games so far to collect 19 points to sit third in the league standings, level on points with second-placed Braga and three points off league leaders Benfica.

While Porto have failed to win their last two away games, they will fancy their chances against a Portimonense side who have lost each of the last 12 league meetings between the teams since November 2010.

Portimonense Primeira Liga form:

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L

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L

Porto Primeira Liga form:

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L

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D

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Porto form (all competitions):

L

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D

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Team News

Portimonense will be without Brazilian midfielder Anderson, who is set to sit out his seventh consecutive game through a muscle injury.

He is joined on the club's injury table by fellow countryman Carlinhos, who has been out of action since coming off injured in May's game against Sporting Lisbon.

Twenty-eight-year-old midfielder Pedro Sa has missed the last three games through injury, while defender Filipe Relvas is a doubt after coming off injured midway through last weekend's clash with Vizela.

Meanwhile, Wendell is Porto's only injury concern heading into the weekend after the Brazilian full-back was forced off injured in the Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen last time out.

Should he fail to shake off his injury, 25-year-old Sanusi should return to the starting XI, teaming up with David Carmo, Pepe and Rodrigo Conceicao at the defensive end of the pitch.

Portimonense possible starting lineup:

Nakamura; Moufi, Relvas, Pedrao, Costa; Ewerton, Moreira, Jocu; Gomes, Rochez, Luquinha

Porto possible starting lineup:

Costa; Conceicao; Pepe, Carmo, Sanusi; Costa, Eustaquio, Uribe; Pepe, Evanilson, Taremi

We say: Portimonense 1-3 Porto

Buoyed by their European victory, Porto will return to the Primeira Liga with sky-high confidence as they look to move to the top of the table. While Portimonense have enjoyed a solid start to the season, they have stumbled in recent weeks, losing two of their last three outings. We predict a one-sided affair on Saturday with Porto claiming all three points.

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