Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 May 2021, 23:00
Having sealed their second-placed finish in the Primeira Liga table, Porto welcome Belenenses to the Estadio do Dragao in the final game of the domestic season on Wednesday evening.

While they have fallen short to champions Sporting Lisbon, a 3-0 win over Rio Ave saw them maintain the four-point gap between themselves and third-placed Benfica with one game left to play, booking their place in next season's Champions League as a result.

Match preview

Porto come into this game on the back of consecutive Primeira Liga victories, firstly defeating Farense 5-1 at home, as Mehdi Taremi netted a brace alongside goals from Antonio Martinez, Luis Diaz and Joao Mario, before Lica scored a consolation goal for the visitors in the dying minutes.

They then followed that up with a comfortable 3-0 away victory over Rio Ave on Saturday, as Martinez and Diaz again got on the scoresheet in the second half before midfielder Sergio Oliveira added a third in the 68th minute to seal a comfortable victory for Os Dragoes.

Those victories followed an important 1-1 draw in O Classico against third-placed Benfica, helping Sergio Conceicao's side fend off their rivals and maintain their second spot.

Last season's Primeira Liga champions have managed to stay at the top end of the table throughout the whole season with 23 wins and just two defeats in 33 top-flight matches, while they have not lost any of their 27 league games since the beginning of November.

While they have eventually fallen short of retaining the title, Conceicao's side should still see this as an acceptable season given that they have secured Champions League football, and they will hope to end the season on a high with a third straight win on Wednesday.

They take on a Belenenses side who have enjoyed a rise up to the top half of the table thanks to a strong run of form in the top flight.

Having previously been threatened by relegation, Petit's side have seen an impressive rise up the table thanks to a solid run of 18 points from their last 11 games.

However, they suffered a disappointing defeat last time out, as they took on Santa Clara with the chance to move into seventh place and knock on the door of the top six with a victory.

O Belem went into that game on the back of consecutive victories, but a brace from Carlos condemned them to a 2-0 defeat, sending Petit's men back down to ninth spot.

With competition for mid-table spots extremely tight, Belenenses still have plenty of scope to move up or down several places depending on results across the league on the final day, and Petit will be desperate for his side to finish the season with a positive result to hold onto their top-half position on the final day.

Porto Primeira Liga form:

Belenenses Primeira Liga form:

Team News

Porto will remain without winger Jesus Corona through injury, while left-back Zaidu Sanusi was absent from the squad last time out and could miss out again on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, centre-back Chancel Mbemba will return to the squad from suspension, and he should regain his place from Diogo Leite, despite the solid back line last time out in Mbemba's absence.

Mehdi Taremi will lead the line, having registered 15 goals and 14 assists in 31 league appearances this season.

He will be joined by Antonio Martinez, who has stepped up since becoming a fixture in the first team with three goals in his last four games, since Moussa Marega's pre-contract agreement with Al-Hilal has limited his chances in the side before he makes the switch at the end of the season.

Belenenses should come into Wednesday's game with a fairly clean bill of health, as Petit has a full squad to choose from.

They will be boosted by the return of midfielder Silvestre Varela, who served a suspension last time out.

He could come back into the front three alongside Miguel Cardoso and Mateo Cassierra, who has fired Belenenses up the table with six goals in his last seven Primeira Liga games.

At the other end of the pitch, Petit should stick with the familiar back three of Goncalo Silva, Thibang Phete and Tomas Ribeiro.

Porto possible starting lineup:

Marchesin; Mario, Pepe, Mbemba, Manafa; Otavio, Oliveira, Uribe, Diaz; Taremi, Martinez

Belenenses possible starting lineup:

Kritsyuk; Silva, Phete, Ribeiro; Esgaio, Sithole, Sousa, Lima; Cardoso, Cassierra, Varela

We say: Porto 2-0 Belenenses

Although Belenenses have undoubtedly improved in the second half of the campaign, we see Porto simply being too strong for their visitors on Wednesday.

Os Dragoes will hope to end the season with three consecutive wins, and they have more than enough attacking quality to break down Belenenses' resilient defence and secure all three points.

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Monaco vs. Brest (Friday, 6.00pm) The first game in Ligue 1 since the final international break of 2024 will see Monaco welcome Brest to the Stade Louis II on Friday night. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly told Mykhaylo Mudryk that he is still in their first-team plans ahead of the January transfer window. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has reportedly not yet made a full recovery from the knock he suffered prior to the international break. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Legendary striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed he was close to joining Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2012. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney gives Romeo Montague a run for his money with wife Coleen revealing he writes her love poetry. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six places separate Wolfsburg and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga table ahead of Saturday's gameweek 11 match at the Volkswagen Arena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund have already fallen behind in the title race and will at least aim to stay within touching distance of the Champions League qualifications spots when they welcome Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A crunch clash at the bottom sees Heracles and RKC Waalwijk go head to head at the Asito Stadium on Saturday evening in gameweek 13 of the Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Stuttgart sit a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga table before welcoming cellar-dwelling VfL Bochum in Saturday's gameweek 11 action at the MHPArena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will both be available for Saturday's Premier League away meeting with Everton. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 talksport.com West Ham have sounded out former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic as a potential replacement for Julen Lopetegui, talkSPORT understands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening.